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Angélus 2005

RegionBordeaux
Subregion France > Bordeaux > Right Bank > St Emilion
ColourRed
TypeStill
Grape VarietyMerlot/Cabernet Franc

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Label

Tasting Notes

Truly great stuff, this wine performed at a three-digit level both in the horizontal tasting of 2005s in Baltimore, as well as in Montreal at this mini-vertical. This sensational, opaque, bluish/purple wine offers up notes of vanillin, spring flowers, blueberry and blackberry liqueur, plus a touch of licorice. The wine hits the palate with a thunderous cascade of ripe, rich, concentrated fruit. It is full-bodied, multidimensional and layered. The tannins are beautifully integrated but still present, and the wood, acidity, alcohol, etc., are all beautifully assimilated in this magnificent, majestic vintage of Angelus. It can be drunk now, but it is still an adolescent and that suggests it has at least another 25-35 years of longevity.

100
Robert Parker, Wine Advocate (220), August 2015

The Château Angelus 2005 has a powerful bouquet with blackberry, bilberry, freshly cut violets and minerals all very well defined and poised. The palate is full-bodied with pure, quite toasty and slightly lactic black fruit. There is great depth here, immense density and yet it keeps control and focus right to the finish. Perhaps it does not quite possess the precision as the Canon '05, but it is still a deeply impressive wine from Hubert de Bouard. Drink 2020 - 2050

95
Neal Martin, RobertParker.com, February 2015
96
James Suckling, WineSpectator.com, February 2008

Tasted blind. Mid glowing crimson. Fresh but not intense nose. Sweet and fresh and rich. Lots of pleasure here with the fruit counterbalancing the tannins. Very vivacious. Still youthful.
Drink 2017-2040

18
Jancis Robinson MW, JancisRobinson.com, March 2017

Good red-ruby. Deep, sweet aromas and flavors of black raspberry, cassis, graphite and licorice. Wonderfully lush, silky and seamless, with a near-perfect balance of fruit and acidity. Very full in the middle palate but with terrific verve leavening the wine's total ripeness. This really coats the palate with flavor and the very long, slow-building finish features utterly sensual tannins. A great performance for this property.

96
Stephen Tanzer, International Wine Cellar, June 2008

Came thirteenth out 184 wines

18.03
-, Southwold Bordeaux Tasting, January 2009

Magnificent wine: refined aromas of red berries, largely influenced by the high proportion of Cabernet Franc, excellent body, velvety texture, elegant tannins. The style of this Château is continuing to evolve, showing the same intensity of flavour but with better balance and integration of tannins. Drink from 2015.

19
Michel Bettane, Decanter.com, April 2006
Read more tasting notes...

Following the stunning fragrance of acacia flowers, blueberries, espresso and graphite, this prodigious wine hits the palate with amazing blue and black fruits, sweet tannin, a full-bodied mouthfeel, incredible purity, texture and length. Little is left to chance or imagination in this compelling effort. It is a quintessential style of l’Angélus, only more concentrated and dense than usual. The tannins are sweet and well-integrated, so this is a wine that one can drink despite its infancy at age 10, but it will keep for 40-50 years. Drink 2015-2065.

100
Robert Parker, Wine Advocate (219), June 2015

This 7,000 case blend of 60% Merlot and 40% Cabernet Franc will rival or perhaps eclipse vintages such as 2000, 1998, 1990, and 1989. Its dense purple color is followed by an extraordinary perfume of charcoal, espresso roast, blackberries, blueberries, and a hint of wood. In spite of its thick texture, terrific acidity, high tannins, and enormous intensity as well as richness, it is surprisingly approachable, but given how slowly the 1989 and 1990 have aged, I would recommend cellaring it for 8-10 years. It should keep for three decades. A brilliant wine! Drink 2018-2038.

98
Robert Parker, Wine Advocate (176), April 2008

It seems like proprietor Hubert de Bouard has the Midas touch no matter what he does. The profound 2005 Angelus (a 7,000-case blend of 60% Merlot and 40% Cabernet Franc that achieved 14.5% natural alcohol) may be the finest wine produced at this estate since 1990 and 1989. An amazingly rich bouquet of espresso roast interwoven with blueberry liqueur, violets, and graphite is followed by a wine of enormous richness, full body, superb acidity, huge tannin, and nearly perfect symmetry. This staggering effort is more backward than such recent vintages as 2003 and 2000, but after 5-10 years of cellaring, it will provide immense pleasure for three decades or more. It is a titan in the making!

96/99
Robert Parker, Wine Advocate (170), April 2007

Could this be the most profound Angelus yet made by the brilliant Hubert de Bouard since he turned this once under-achieving estate around in the mid-eighties? A blend of 60% Merlot and 40% Cabernet Franc, the spectacular, inky/blue/purple-hued 2005 (7,080 cases; 14.5% natural alcohol) exhibits an extraordinary projected nose of blueberries, blackberries, liqueur of minerals, flowers, and subtle, toasty new oak. Magnificently concentrated, displaying a seamless integration of acidity, wood, tannin, and alcohol, a soaring mid-palate, and a finish that lasts over 60 seconds, this is a wine of compelling potential. Anticipated maturity: 2010-2030+.

96/98+
Robert Parker, Wine Advocate (164), April 2006

The 2005 Angelus is a little more open than previous bottles. Lifted dark cherry, boysenberry and plum fruit with a slight tinny undercurrent and then that black olive tincture. The palate is medium-bodied with a lactic, chocolaty entry. Sweet and generous, though missing a little tension on the finish. Spicy and feral, this Angelus need several years taming in bottle. Side by side, I am beginning to prefer the 2009. Tasted December 2012.

94
Neal Martin, RobertParker.com, May 2013

Very, very pretty aromas already of violets, mineral and blackberry. Full-bodied, with fine tannins and a delicate, complex finish. Very subtle. Refined. Will it be better than 2000?

92/94
James Suckling, WineSpectator.com, March 2006

Blackish crimson. Thick and sweet with an undercurrent of dark chocolate. Vibrant but dry on the end. Good tension. But for the moment the slightly-too-sweet fruit is overwhelmed by the tannins. Work in progress. 14.5%. Drink 2020-2035

17-
Jancis Robinson MW, JancisRobinson.com, February 2015

Very dark. Heavy and heady on the nose. Sweet and round on the palate with rather painful acidity and pinched, palate drying finish. Drinking it now is a bit like sucking charcoal. Wait!

17
Jancis Robinson MW, JancisRobinson.com, February 2009
Please note that these tasting notes/scores are not intended to be exhaustive and in some cases they may not be the most recently published figures. However, we always do our best to add latest scores and reviews when these come to our attention. We advise customers who wish to purchase wines based simply on critical reviews to carry out further research into the latest reports.