Tasting Notes
Neal Martin 96
The 2009 Angelus has a very refined bouquet with a mixture of red and black fruit, quite lavish in style with hints of crushed violet developing in the glass. You cannot help but be taken by the purity of this Angelus. The palate is medium-bodied with ripe and supple tannin, well judged acidity, beautifully balanced with supremely well integrated oak towards the finish. This is a wonderful Angelus that should give another two or three decades of drinking pleasure. Tasted at BI Wines & Spirits’ Ten Year On tasting.
Anticipated maturity: 2020-2045
Stephen Tanzer 95
Deep, saturated ruby to the rim. Superripe, high-toned aromas of kirsch and dark chocolate. Large-scaled, ripe and chocolatey, conveying a distinctly exotic character and an impression of power. Finishes with huge but ripe tannins and a lingering note of mocha. For the first 24 hours in the bottle the vintage dominated the wine’s cabernet franc character, but eventually blackberry, violet and licorice elements emerged. Built for a long life in bottle.
Vinous 92-95
(60% merlot and 40% cabernet franc; pH 3.77; 14.5% alcohol; IPT 92) Deep purple. Very deep, enticing aromas of cassis, blackberry liqueur, dark chocolate and violet, with some oaky torrefaction notes of espresso and mocha; seems a bit more merlot-dominated than usual. The palate boasts outstanding intensity and freshness to the black fruit and smoky oak flavors, with a firm spine of acidity giving the wine necessary backbone. Finishes horizontal and long, with building, youthfully aggressive but ripe tannins. In a modern, extractive style, but with much better grip, focus and verve than many other similarly made wines. It’s hard to believe, but t his is the 25th anniversary vintage for talented owner Hubert de Bo u ard, who is increasingly in demand across the Bordeaux region as a winemaking consultant.
Wine Advocate 99
Blended of 60% Merlot and 40% Cabernet Franc, the deep garnet colored 2009 Angelus sings of blackberry preserves, warm black cherries, stewed plums and dried herbs with hints of Chinese five spice, fragrant earth, truffles and new leather. Full, rich, spicy and decadent in the mouth, it has a plush, velvety texture and well-knit freshness, finishing very long with tons of spicy layers.
Anticipated maturity: 2019-2055
JancisRobinson.com 16.5
Very sweet and floral. Transparent but not quite refreshing enough, but good to drink in 2023. (JR)
Anticipated maturity: 2015-2029
