Château Angélus, St Emilion, 2004
A blend of Merlot and 40% Cabernet Franc,this wine has a remarkable, black/purple, inky appearance, and a super sexy nose of very ripe black fruits and cream. Big on the palate, with firm tannins on the attack but very rounded on the finish. The fruit is rich yet clear and elegant, not overdone, with a delicious dark richness to the finish and a delicate hint of liquorice. It goes on and on: very good!
critic reviews
A blend of 60% Merlot and 40% Cabernet Franc, the 2004 Angelus is deep garnet-brick in color. It opens with notes of leather, menthol, and iodine, leading to a core of stewed plums and blackberry preserves, plus a touch of wild sage and dusty soil. The medium-bodied palate offers lightly chewy tannins and a lively backbone to support the expressive, mature fruit, finishing on a savory note.
This 7,500-case blend of 62% Merlot and 38% Cabernet Franc is one of the strongest wines of the vintage. A deep blue/purple hue is accompanied by classic aromas of smoky blueberries and blackberries as well as incense and floral notes in the background. A beautiful texture, opulence, flamboyance, and purity characterize this stunningly deep, full-bodied effort, another great success from proprietor Hubert de Bouard. Anticipated maturity: 2009-2022.
Deep ruby. Wild aromas of plum, redcurrant, game, underbrush and flowers; hints of liqueur-like superripeness. Supple and suave but also rich and large-scaled; seriously concentrated and deep for the vintage but less sweet than the 2005. This boasts lovely texture and broad, ripe tannins but I find more intensity and incipient complexity-not to mention purity and lift-in the young 2006.