Angelus 2015

St Emilion, Premier Grand Cru Classé A

Excel download

View All Vintages of this Wine

Units Size Case size GBP Price: Quantities Buy
Tasting Notes

The 2015 Angelus was bottled in September 2017. It has a more backward nose compared to other recent vintages, demanding coaxing to eke out those lovely blackberry, briary, cassis and crushed violet aromas that are neatly sutured with the new oak. The palate is medium-bodied with supple tannins. This is velvety/creamy in texture, the acidity well judged with sumptuous black cherry and red plum fruit, underneath which lies hints of seaweed/brine and sea salt. There is great precision on the finish, completing an accomplished Angelus built for long-term aging.

Score: 96

Neal Martin, Wine Advocate, RobertParker.com Maturity: 2023-2050 01 March 2018

The 2015 Angelus is a blend of 62% Merlot and 38% Cabernet Franc, picked from 22 September finishing on 14 October. "We found a nice homogeneity with the Merlot lots," I was told when I visited. "The old Cabernet Franc was very nice, but the younger vines were blended into the second label. This year, it is especially the Merlot that lends a lot of harmony to the wine. This year, the Merlot have some of the qualities of the Cabernet Franc, the precision and freshness. They give the generosity and sweetness." The wine was aged in 100% new oak at 11 degrees Celsius so they could add less sulfur to keep the freshness of the aromas and maintain the elegance of the wine. It offers a complex array of aromas such as black cherry, camphor, oyster shells and Japanese nori, beautifully defined and very focused. The palate is medium-bodied but powerful with layer of svelte tannins and a keen thread of acidity; layers of black fruit laced with spices, baking powder, mint and white pepper. It feels long in the mouth, insistently clinging for a minute after the wine has departed. Oh là là. This is a sexy, but compelling Angelus, fit for "007" and wine-lovers everywhere.

Score: 95 - 97

Neal Martin, Wine Advocate, RobertParker.com Maturity: 2025-2060 01 April 2016

A blend of 62% Merlot and 38% Cabernet Franc, the 2015 Angelus reveals a deep garnet-purple color and fragrant aromas of crushed red currants, warm plums and pencil shavings with hints of incense, sage, violets and tobacco. Full-bodied, very fine and intense yet exquisitely delicate with wonderful freshness, it has ripe yet firm, very finely grained tannins and an epically long, perfumed finish. With bags of perfume and a captivating plushness, this Angelus is a real head-turner!

Score: 97

Lisa Perrotti-Brown MW, Wine Advocate, RobertParker.com Maturity: 2023-2050 21 February 2018

A great wine with superb concentration and richness. yet it's ever so agile and polished. Spices, blueberries, cinnamon and dried flowers. Full body and polished and full tannins. Great length. The refinement to the tannins is amazing. Compacted. Essence-like. Needs five or six years to open. Try in 2025.

Score: 99

James Suckling, JamesSuckling.com 02 February 2018

This shows the purity of Angelus. I have never tasted a wine from here with such incredible clarity. Full body, full fruit and full beauty. Super silky tannins. A joy to taste. Makes you want to drink it. 62% merlot and 38% cabernet franc.

Score: 99 - 100

James Suckling, JamesSuckling.com 15 April 2016

Readers will have to be very patient with the 2015 Angélus. Massively tannic and forbidding, Angélus is one of the most reticent, unyielding 2015s I tasted. The high percentage of Cabernet Franc, the approach to extraction, aging in the cellar - which involves minimal racking and low S02 - and slightly late bottling are some of the factors that result in a huge, powerful, impenetrable wine at this stage. Even so, the 2015 exudes concentration and depth. Time in the glass brings out some of the wine's unctuousness, but it will be at least a decade before the 2015 is ready to deliver true drinking pleasure. (95+)

Score: 95

Antonio Galloni, Vinous.com Maturity: 2025-2055 01 February 2018

In 2015, Angélus is 62% Merlot and 38% Cabernet Franc. It is also one of the most powerful, vertical wines of the vintage. A rush of sweet floral and spice notes appear first, before waves of intense, inky/purplish fruit take hold of all the senses. The tannins need time to soften, probably quite a bit of time, but there is no denying the wine's sheer beauty. I came back to the 2015 several hours later and found a wine that had blossomed beautifully with air. The 2015 will be magnificent once the tannins soften. Readers will have to be patient, as that is likely to take a decade-plus to happen.

Score: 94 - 96

Antonio Galloni, Vinous.com 01 April 2016

A total blockbuster is the 2015 Angelus and it’s reminiscent of a slightly more elegant 2009. Made from 62% Merlot and 38% Cabernet Franc brought up in new barrels, this rich, opulent beauty boast killer notes of blackcurrants, blackberry liqueur, truffle, chocolate and scorched earth. With full-bodied richness, building, ripe tannin and a stacked profile on the palate, this hedonistic Bomb of a wine from Hubert de Boüard needs 4-5 years of cellaring and will keep for three decades or more. (97+)

Score: 97

Jeb Dunnuck, JebDunnuck.com Maturity: 2022-2052 30 November 2017

Elevated in 2012 to St Emilion First Growth status, Angelus is owned and made by renowned winemaker Hubert de Bouard. 62% Merlot, 38% Cabernet Franc. Powerful broodingly deep aromas, of rich fruit, mocha and spices. The palate is intense and gorgeous with incredible cashmere texture and layers of rich elegant fruit: chocolate infused dark raspberries, cassis, blueberries. Dense, textural and structured with a long beautiful racy finish.

Score: 95 - 98

Albany Vintners, - 27 April 2016

62% Merlot, 38% Cabernet Franc. First year Stéphanie de Boüard was in charge with father Hubert at her side. Extremely dark purplish crimson. Light nose but masses of sweet concentration on the palate. Nothing exaggerated. Just rather drying tannins on the end at the moment. Like Carillon d'Angélus, it has a slight bitterness on the finish but has clearly been made with no shortage of ambition. For the long term.

Score: 17 - 18

Jancis Robinson MW, JancisRobinson.com Maturity: 2027-2040 01 April 2016