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Tasting Notes
The 2021 Angélus is a standout wine of the vintage. The team has named 2021 “the unexpected” – a vintage that surprised everyone with its quality after the tricky growing season. For the first time ever, the wine is 60% Cabernet Franc (the 2002 and 2003 vintages come closest, each having over 50%). This blend, extensive sorting, gentle extraction and the estate’s trademark attention to detail has produced a vibrant and pure wine – with 13.5% natural alcohol. Vibrantly purple in the glass, the 2021 Ch. Angélus is a gorgeous wine – aromas of spice and vanilla complementing fresh cherry and raspberry. It’s a wine of stunning purity and elegance. The tannins provide a chalky grip, while the acidity is zesty – almost orange-edged, building to a long, mineral, saline finish. Unfortunately yields are down by 40% (at 23hl/ha) due to mildew. Blend: 60% Cabernet Franc, 40% Merlot
Critic Scores
Average Score
William Kelley, Wine Advocate
Antonio Galloni, Vinous
More reviews and scores
The Grand Vin 2021 Château Angélus is 60% Cabernet Franc and 40% Merlot that was brought up in new barrels, with a portion of the Cabernet Franc raised in 30 hectoliter foudres. It offers a ruby/purple hue to go with a gorgeous perfume of pureed cassis and black raspberry fruit, as well as spice, spring flowers, and chalky, almost salty minerality. Medium to full-bodied on the palate, it has wonderful purity of fruit, ultra-fine tannins, and a gorgeous finish.
For the first time ever, Angélus is 60% Cabernet Franc and 40% Merlot in 2021. There's terrific density and power, especially within the context of the year. Black cherry, chocolate, spice, menthol and lavender all build nicely in the glass. The 2021 has quite a bit of richness, and its 14% alcohol, a bit lower than the recent norm, works quite well in this vintage. All it needs is a bit of time to help soften some of the raw contours that are present today.
The 2021 Angélus contains 60% Cabernet Franc, the highest percentage ever, and also reflects an increasing use of wooden foudres (half the Cabernet Franc or 30% of the whole blend). It has a more understated bouquet compared to the bravura vintages of the last three years, demanding gentle coaxing to reveal scents of brambly black fruit, potpourri, hints of orange pith and a little sous-bois. The palate is medium-bodied with fine-grained tannins, and quite sapid, the Cabernet Franc lending a slightly more chalky texture and a linear, focused finish. Displaying fine tension throughout, though not astoundingly long, this Angelus deserves 4–5 years in bottle to show its true potential.
About the producer
Ch. Angélus is one of Saint-Emilion's finest properties. Ch. Angélus is one of the few Saint-Emilion properties today that has remained under family ownership since its inception over 237 years ago.