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

Bettane & Desseauve

About the estate:

Located in the heart of the Saint-Émilion hillside, in the appellation’s most prestigious sector, with a south-facing exposure, Angélus boasts one of the finest terroirs, spanning 25 hectares in a single block. This estate, brought to the pinnacle of success by Hubert de Boüard—an exceptional winemaker and the soul of the place—is now led 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 investment (the new winery built in 2014 allows for the production of wines of even more impressive precision, and the recent helium balloon system is in place to counteract hail damage), and above all, meticulous attention to every detail. All of this forms a high-standard arsenal. 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 or Ausone. Recently, the transition to organic farming has completed the rise of this wine, which stands out for its unique sensuality and subtle aniseed notes found nowhere else. Fresh, elegant, and supported by velvety tannins, Angélus remains one of the most complex Saint-Émilions 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 top tier of Saint-Émilion’s First Growths in the 2012 classification, no other château has climbed so far up the Bordeaux hierarchy in such a short time. This remarkable rise, achieved over two decades, is the work of Hubert de Boüard, a modern winemaker, skilled communicator, and international consultant—a key figure in local and national wine industry bodies. 2013 saw the complete renovation and beautification of the winery, now crowned by a spectacular carillon. After restructuring the family estate’s vineyard parcels, giving it every advantage to reach the appellation’s highest standards of quality, Hubert de Boüard is stepping down. In 2017, Thierry Grenié-de Boüard joined Stéphanie de Boüard-Rivoal at the helm of the château. The eighth generation is taking the reins and making significant changes. Angélus exemplifies the best of the formal and sophisticated perfection found in 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, each with their own dedicated plots. With the 2021 vintage, the château will officially obtain its organic certification.

Wine Spectator

Vinous

James Suckling

About the wine:

Notes of blackberry and plum, with hints of chocolate. Oyster shell. Full-bodied and very firm, with a linear structure. Tight and powerful. Very pure fruit. Tension and energy. Silky tannins. Hints of coffee beans and chocolate. Should be aged for at least 5 or 6 years. 60% Merlot and 40% Cabernet Franc. Best enjoyed after 2028.

Jeb Dunnuck

About the wine:

The flagship wine of this great estate, the 2020 Château Angelus is a blend of 60% Merlot and 40% Cabernet Franc, aged for 22 months in new oak barrels. Darker and more concentrated than the 2019, it offers magnificent medium- 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, a round and harmonious palate, and a finish of great intensity. It is fully in line with the vintage’s classic, balanced, and structured style, and it is recommended to let it age in the bottle for 7 to 8 years. It can be enjoyed for over 30 years. 2030–2060

Le Figaro vins

About the wine:

On the nose, nature reigns supreme: savory and floral notes are present, along with aromas of fresh red berries and the crispness 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 full attention, compelling you to notice every detail. Breathtaking grace and finesse that linger in a long, salty, and savory finish. 2028–2058

Terre de Vins

About the wine:

Purity. That is the word that comes to mind when you take a whiff of Angélus 2020. Aromatic purity, stretching from fresh fruit to delicate floral notes. Purity of texture, perfectly velvety, built on a perfectly ripe structure. Purity of a masterful structure, blending powdery tannins, a smooth texture, and refreshing tension. We are certainly in the presence of a model of balance. Lively, savory, mouth-watering, and still clad in its usual soft velvet garb, Angélus has found its footing, its style, and establishes itself as one of the major wines of this vintage.

Vert de Vin

About the wine:

The nose is beautifully developed, refined, and elegant, offering lovely finesse, purity, intensity (with finesse), concentration (with finesse), and a lovely breadth of the aromatic profile. It features notes of vibrant blackcurrant, strawberry, and, more subtly, vibrant blueberry, combined with hints of black tea, juicy cherry, and peony, as well as subtle hints of pepper, spices, a discreet touch of citrus zest, violet, and an imperceptible hint of black tea. The palate is beautifully delicate, precise, and subtle, offering finesse, tension, and a refined richness, with a certain discretion and restraint in its power, a lovely, racy minerality, and an airy quality in its balance. On the palate, this wine expresses notes of crisp/juicy raspberry, pulpy/juicy blackberry, and more subtly, fresh/vibrant blackcurrant, combined with hints of black plum, violet, and bergamot, as well as subtle hints of star anise and an imperceptible saline note. Beautiful work with the bitter notes, smoothness, savory depth, and a lovely powdery texture (which enhances the palate) on the finish and in the aftertaste. The tannins are precise, refined, structuring, and polished. A very beautiful, lively, and aromatic finish. A wine full of finesse and subtlety.

The Wine Cellar Insider - Jeff Leve

About the wine:

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