Château Angélus St-Emilion 2020 - 1er Grand Cru Classé A

Bettane & Desseauve

About the estate:

In the heart of the Saint-Émilion coast, in the most prestigious area of the appellation, facing south, Angélus boasts one of the finest terroirs, covering 25 hectares in a single block. This cru, brought to the top by Hubert de Boüard, an outstanding winemaker and the soul of the estate, is now run by his daughter Stéphanie and his nephew Thierry Grenié de Boüard, who have been at the helm since 2016. The estate has few equals. A high percentage of Cabernet Franc (40 to 50%), significant human and financial commitment (the new 2014 winery allows wines of even more impressive precision to be produced, and the recent helium balloon system is there to counteract hail attacks) and, above all, meticulous attention to every detail. All this forms an arsenal of high standards. These constant efforts earned it the supreme rank of Premier Grand Cru Classé A in 2012, an elite recognition that places it on the same level as Cheval Blanc and Ausone. Recently, the transition to organic farming has completed the rise of this wine, which is distinguished by a very unique sensuality and subtle aniseed notes that are found nowhere else. Fresh, elegant, and supported by soft tannins, Angélus remains one of the most complex Saint-Émilion wines on the right bank.

Robert Parker - Wine Advocate

About the estate:

RVF - La Revue du Vin de France / Guide des Meilleurs Vins de France

About the estate:

Promoted to the quartet of first growths in the latest Saint-Émilion classification in 2012, no other château has climbed so high in the Bordeaux hierarchy in such a short space of time. This prodigious rise, achieved in two decades, is the work of Hubert de Boüard, a modernist winemaker, great communicator, international consultant, and influential figure in local and national wine-growing circles. 2013 saw the complete renovation and embellishment of the winery, now topped by a spectacular carillon. After restructuring the family estate's vineyards, giving himself every advantage to reach the highest quality levels of the appellation, Hubert de Boüard handed over the reins. In 2017, Thierry Grenié-de Boüard joined Stéphanie de Boüard-Rivoal at the head of the château. The eighth generation took over and made significant changes. Angélus exemplifies the best of the formal and sophisticated perfection of today's great Bordeaux wines. Ten kilometers from Angélus, a new winery will be used for the vinification of Carillon and N°3, the second and third wines, which have their own dedicated plots. With the 2021 vintage, the château will officially become certified organic.

Wine Spectator

Vinous

James Suckling

About wine:

Blackberry and plum character, with hints of chocolate. Oyster shell. Full-bodied and very firm, with a linear sensitivity. Tight and powerful. Very pure fruit. Tension and energy. Silky tannins. Some notes of coffee beans and chocolate. To be aged for at least 5 or 6 years. 60% Merlot and 40% Cabernet Franc. To be enjoyed after 2028.

Jeb Dunnuck

About wine:

The jewel in the crown of this great estate, Château Angelus 2020 is composed of 60% Merlot and 40% Cabernet Franc, and aged for 22 months in new barrels. Darker and more concentrated than the 2019, it offers magnificent medium-bodied to full-bodied aromas of red currants, black raspberries, sandalwood, spring flowers, and smoked tobacco. With near-perfect balance, it does not reach the flamboyant style of 10 years ago, but it stands out for its remarkable purity, ultra-fine tannins, round and harmonious palate, and a finish of great intensity. It is very much in keeping with the classic, balanced and structured style of the vintage, and it is recommended to leave it to age in the bottle for 7 to 8 years. It can be enjoyed for over 30 years. 2030-2060

Le Figaro vins

About wine:

The nose is dominated by nature: savory and floral notes, aromas of fresh red fruit, and the freshness of a northern forest. All the sounds of the forest are there: birdsong, the rustling of leaves in the wind... A complete wine that captures your attention and compels you to notice every detail. Breathtaking grace and finesse linger on a long, salty, and flavorful finish. 2028-2058

Terre de Vins

About wine:

Purity. That's the word that comes to mind when you take a sniff of Angélus 2020. Aromatic purity, stretching between fresh fruit and floral delicacy. Purity of substance, perfectly velvety, built on al dente maturity. Purity of a virtuoso architecture between powdery tannins, smooth texture, and refreshing tension. This is undoubtedly a model of balance. Lively, sapid, mouthwatering, and still dressed in its usual soft velvet suit, Angélus has found its footing and style, establishing itself as one of the major wines of this vintage.

Vert de Vin

About wine:

The nose is beautifully crafted, refined, elegant, and offers a lovely finesse of grain, purity, intensity (in finesse), concentration (in finesse), and a lovely breadth of aromatic palette. There are notes of bright blackcurrant, strawberry and, more subtly, bright blueberry, combined with hints of black tea, fleshy cherry and peony, as well as subtle hints of pepper, spices, a discreet hint of citrus zest, violet and an imperceptible hint of black tea. The palate is beautifully delicate, precise and subtle, offering finesse, tension, deliciousness (in finesse), a certain discretion/restraint in its power, a lovely racy minerality, and an airy side to its balance. On the palate, this wine expresses notes of crisp/juicy raspberry, pulpy/juicy blackberry and, more subtly, fresh/bright blackcurrant, combined with hints of black plum, violet, bergamot and subtle hints of star anise and an imperceptible hint of saltiness. A lovely balance of bitterness, sweetness, and savoriness, with a pleasant powdery texture (adding appeal) on the finish/persistence. The tannins are precise, fine, structured, and polished. A very beautiful, lively aromatic persistence. A wine full of finesse and subtlety.

The Wine Cellar Insider - Jeff Leve

About wine:

Everything that makes Château Angélus so exceptional is found here in abundance! The wine is almost opaque in color. In the glass, the aroma explodes with essences of black, dark red, and blue fruits, smoke, licorice, flowers, espresso, chocolate, and a range of spices. The wine is full-bodied, intense, silky, vibrant, and concentrated, with multiple layers of perfectly ripe fruit, soft and textured like cashmere. The wine develops, expands, and intensifies on the palate. The fruit offers purity and depth in the flawless finish that lingers for nearly 60 seconds. Give it a little time in the cellar and it will likely reach triple digits. It's that good! Drink between 2026 and 2060.