Chateau Angelus, Saint-Emilion Grand Cru

This bottle was truly in top form. Brooding black fruits super dense. Decanted for an hour then drank over another. Blackish crimson, super concentrated, nose of blackberries, black cherry coulis, winter truffles, some hints of licorice, bitter chocolates. Layered on the palate, very precise, expands mid palate with exploding black fruits, long pure velvet finish tannins fully cloaked but present signalling a long life ahead for this beauty. Drinking beautifully.

2001 vintage

Already magnificent, it probably needs another couple of years to hit its apogee. Iin spite of Pessac heroics, 1998 firmly belonged to the right bank, with the Angelus potentially leaving the 1982 and 1990 in its rear view mirror. That said, it is already magnificent, but the nose is still a little primary, and tannin needs to further resolve. This is potentially a 98+ wine in a couple of years. We have tendency to drink great Bordeaux too young, and …

1998 vintage

Lots of intense and concentrated mixed red berry Merlot fruit makes a strong impression. Still a bit young and might improve. Excellent acidity, relatively modest tannins. Mostly one note now though. Eventually becomes a little more variegated and smooth. Promising.

1998 vintage

10th of 12, decanted an hour, perfect cork and level, substantial downgrade, fruit muted, structure merely ok, tobacco flavours overly prominent, ok scale, just dull and way off better bottles, hopefully this is unrepresentative as already on down and needs drinking up! At best VG+ (16.5).

1995 vintage

This wine has come into its own now after being stubbornly closed and tannic for many years. The fabulous black and purple fruit, berry spices, truffles, dark chocolate and tarpit minerals show the flavors of this fine vineyard in spades and the texture is just liquid velvet. Lovely stuff and should hold here for many years.

1998 vintage

Cork solid enough. Base neck fill. Strained into a decanter. 45 minutes there and strained back into the bottle. Was not sure if the wine needed more time or perhaps was starting fall off. Vin-vac seal, and then opened it 6 hours later. The wine needed another 45 minutes of air in the glass to show its best. The usual suspects: blueberries, plum, red berries, some mocha, soft leather, vanilla Oak and some underbrush. Velvety smooth. 30+ second finish.

1989 vintage

mature and very delicious this is certainly on of the wines of this vintage - it now has a certain gentleness to it - lovely but maybe starting to show its age?

2001 vintage

Angular but typical for the vintage, this wine is balanced. Wish there was a bit more fruit. Probably not going to get much better. Still a very enjoyable Bordeaux. Drink over the next three years.

1995 vintage

G-Max, Rayas, and the Silk of '89 (Private Residence, NYC) : Look, it’s a great wine, but in this lineup, it felt like the opening act. It’s still got that "young" energy—truffles, minerals, and plenty of fruit—but it just didn't have the gravitas of the Pétrus or the Haut-Brion. It felt like it snuck into the wrong tasting.

1989 vintage

This has matured well and remains an older style of Angelus without the ripeness of today. Layered and smooth with lovely notes of dark chocolate, sweet tobacco, allspice and smoke. The '95 VCC drunk alongside was a touch better but this is drinking very well now if a touch angular.

1995 vintage

Classic dark cherry nose with some nice mature note showing some mild caramel notes but not overly advanced. This I thought was younger perhaps late 90's early 2000s but what a treat. Well balanced with smooth tannins making this a joy to drink.

1989 vintage

Double decanted the night before. The 1998 pours a deep garnet purple with a opaque core; medium viscosity with moderate staining of the tears. On the nose, the wine is vinous and imbued with an incredible perfume of ripe black cherry, black plum, purple flowers, pipe tobacco, cocoa, a mix of organic and inorganic earth, and fine warm spices. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium+ tannin and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish …

1998 vintage

Holiday Great Wine Lunch (RL - Chicago IL) : Small glass. Rich black fruit with some sweet spice and faint earth notes. Still slightly firm in the middle, but this is getting to a great place.

1995 vintage

1995 Bordeaux 30 years on tasting. : Not much of a nose aromatically, but with emanating heat. The fruit is stuck in the background and shows pretty ripe and concentrated cherry. On the palate a tad more fruit, but a weird structure - hard to say whether too much or too little tannins, but definitely mouthcoating towards the finish. Again little aromatic presence. Last bottle 4 years ago was significantly better.

1995 vintage

Last bottle. Just like a bottle consumed not long ago......OK, but not up to what it should be. My bottles have been well stored, and I have not had similar problems with other older Red Bordeaux. Hence, I have no explanation or theory as to why others seem to be having a better experience right now with this vintage of Angelus.

1995 vintage

Irrespective of right bank or left bank, the 1995 vintage is recognisable immediately with its harsher and rustic nature. This is no exception. Although perfectly constructed, it has the herbaceousness and strong tannic notes so typical of the vintage. Two years since last tasted, this was not one of the best bottles I've had of this. The nose is deeply fruited with red berry and cranberry with menthol hints and a well balanced palate. As with the 1995s in general, …

1995 vintage

Near perfection. Notes of cacao, tobacco but still a very good amount of sweetness to the wine. Could have been near 100 pts if it was a bit less jammy but could have been due to poor storage (bought the bottle from a friend).

1989 vintage

Excellent wine. Pop and pour and is ready to drink. The balance is extremely elegant, and you get little hints of textures, flavors, that are impactful but fleeting and then something new develops. Truly a great wine and in a great drinking window

1998 vintage

What a stunning showing and among the best wines I've tasted from this underrated vintage. Such freshness and vibrancy to go along with the opulent, layered texture and richness of black fruits. Dazzling with electric acidity and lifted floral and mineral notes, this may be the best bottle of Angelus I've ever tasted considering my preference for this wine in less ripe vintages. The finish is layered and fine with wonderful notes of expresso, blackberries, dark spices, sweet tobacco and …

2001 vintage

A little better than a recent bottle, but not up to what it should be. Decanted for 2+ hours.

1995 vintage

This was a silky and seductive wine. With Menthol notes and a controlled dark fruit that you can only find in these Bordeaux from the 80's.

1986 vintage

Last tasted 7 years ago (could it be?), this bottle was a pop and pour. On the last occasion, I thought it needed an hour to develop fully and we certainly did not give it that. This example (from the same case) is lighter than I recall, still with red and black fruit, truffle, and mineral, but a little plain. Who knows what this bottle's trajectory would have been had we had few enough people to follow it, though.

1989 vintage

Just like a bottle consumed in the Spring of 2024......a bit of a disappointment. Others are having a better experience with this wine right now. It has been well stored, and I have been having no issues with the tastings of other older wines that are stored in the same Wine Room. So, I do not have any clue as to what is going on.

1995 vintage

This is an OMG wine. Nose is just perfection. Ripe black and red cherries, tobacco, with earthy and herbaceous notes and a touch of smoke and leather. Pure silk entry. Med+ body, med acid, med tannin. So perfectly aligned. Amazing and likely to hold this state for 5+ more years. May even get better. Wow.

1998 vintage

The fine selection of fruits gave me a fantastic nose, definitely a full marks experience, however the palate is a little different, gave me a more tamed, civilised impression, very clean and polished fruits on the palate!

2001 vintage

One of the greats. Needed a quick decant and about 90 min of air to really shine. Maybe 1/2 t of sediment. Cab franc notes really came through. Smooth and slightly red-fruited sweetness. A hint of green in a good way. Stellar.

1989 vintage

Told it was 90 min decant. Consumed over the course of an hour or so. Seemingly more advanced than my last bottle. Blueberry and mocha notes were not as prevalent, but the red fruits and green pepper and green herb notes were more dominant - coming across more like Cheval Blanc to me, which not meant to be a slight. More silky than velvety on the palate but a perfect food acidity balance with just the right amount of semi-sweet …

1989 vintage

Fully mature with resolved tannins. Fruit still sumptuous. Drink now. No decant necessary.

2001 vintage

ESTG weekend in Minneapolis; 7/25/2025-7/26/2025 (Minneapolis, MN) : This opens with sexy, easy chocolate and bitter cocoa flavors. Nice cherry core. With time in the glass though this is so spiny and leafy, wow, so much Cabernet France character. I love how herbal this got.

1989 vintage

Drank this over 3 nights with no decant Drank beat on night 3, so clearly no issues with old age or concerns about how older “parkerized” wines age. This bottle finally softened all its edges and still plenty of fruit on night 3, accompanying branzino at home, hardly a perfect match. 4 more bottles and no rush

2001 vintage

Dark berry fruit nose Very fine tannins behind a rich black raspberry palate. Long finish Drinking beautifully and at peak I would say Not quite as good the second day

1995 vintage

**Saturday Older Wines Day** (16/20) Bit dusty after all these years, but still very drinkable! Medium intense aromas of violet, red plum, tomato leaf, liquorice wood, gunpowder, leather, mushroom, forest floor, orange marmalade, balsamic, old books. Dry wine, medium+ acidity, medium and dusty tannins, medium body, medium+ flavour intensity, medium+ length finish. Legendary 1975 tasting @Koert Neger

1975 vintage

Last tasted one year ago with similar notes. Deep plum color. Black cherries, blackberries, black raspberry, licorice, and leather in the nose with hints of tobacco, minerals and wood. Lots of black fruits in the flavor, blackberries, blueberries, plums and a hint of figs and chocolate. Well balanced, medium to full bodied, complex and a long finish. 94/95

1989 vintage

I’m loving all the truffles, smoke, licorice, black cherries, and chocolate in the nose. The only thing that could top that is the sexy, sensuous, showy palate with its display of ripe, sweet black, red, and white cherries that feel great as they linger. Fully mature, no decanting needed here. Pop, pour and enjoy. Drink 2025-2037.

2001 vintage

All previous bottles have been very good. The last one was consumed in Sept., 2024. This bottle was disappointing. It was flat with not a lot going on. It was decanted for an hour and a half, which is a little less than with prior bottles. However, it did not improve as the evening evolved. I have two bottles left. I hope this is a one-off experience.

1995 vintage

With additional structure this could be superb. Exuberant bouquet of blackberry, darkest plum and barest bit of prune. Very full bodied and long. Excellent concentration of fruit and sound acidity. Sadly there is a lack of tannin to support all that fruit so it comes off as fruit-heavy and somewhat simple. But enjoyable nevertheless although it becomes borderline tiring by glass number three.

1989 vintage

Cork solid. Base neck fill. Decanted 3 hours. 3/4 teaspoon of sediment. Back into bottle. Slow ox another hour+ Consumed over next hour or so. No bricking. Solid color through core. The nose and palate matched after all the air time. Blueberries, plum, red berries, some mocha, soft leather, vanilla Oak and a touch of underbrush. Velvety smooth, full-mouth feel. 45 second finish. Still crying over my prior corked bottle but even at a net 2x the cost, still worth …

1989 vintage

This was kinda attractive in a lush mocha mode at first, but to me (others liked more) the wood began to poke out and the fruti turned a bit kirschy. B-

1995 vintage

Deep ruby color with minimal rusty color on the edges (tasted next to the 1989 L'Evangile and Fleur de Gay, both of which had lighter color and a greater brown tint at the edge of the wine). This is a 50:50 blend of Merlot and Cabernet Franc. The aromatics are powerful in a pleasant way with blackberries, tar, earth, and plums. This is a muscular wine with super concentration, a long finish, and residual soft tannins. It combines elegance, flamboyance, …

1989 vintage

Dinner with Friends (EBCC) : Double blind. Medium red color with some bricking. Immediately identifiable with a gorgeous Bordeaux bouquet of red berries, tobacco, plum and a hint of iodine. With time in the glass notes of earth and lavender emerge. Full-bodied with fully resolved tannins and flavors of mixed red and black fruit, cigar tobacco, spice, rare beef and dried herbs. Seamless across the palate; balanced and complex. A beautiful showing. 95+ pts. (Doc)

1989 vintage

Chateau Angelus Tasting with Anna Tkachenko-Marie (Delta , Athens) : This is now bang on drinking at its best , especially if like us one loves a bit of age. Earthy, leathery, quite herbaceous and with a very soft and silky tannic structure. Fuite is well evolved and just works so well at this stage. Pointless to say more . A beautiful wine and an easy 95-96

1995 vintage

Big and muscular and needs more time. But the class and quality is here.

1995 vintage

Nice evolution since last encounter. Very elegant, full of freshness and tension, focused with a nice acidity. Medium-bodied, very perfumed, with violet and red berries aromas, silky tanins and a long finish. Quite delicious.

2017 vintage

Not at the level of previous bottles. I think this suffered a tad from heat exposure from when the cooling unit in my cellar in Chiang Mai crapped out. WAH! PnP, bad idea. First sip was closed and not very giving. But the balance was there. After an hour it started to reveal some creamy smooth elegant style. I mean very elegant which is what I'm used to w this wine. Finish started to emerge but by then the wine …

1989 vintage

90 vs. 89 (Red South Beach Restaurant, Miami) : While not as voluptuous as the 1990 version, the 1989 makes up for it in concentration and power. It needs time in the glass to blossom to show its beautiful dark cherry and blueberry fruit. Built to last. A treasure for now and the future will be even brighter.

1989 vintage

Opened with friends for Sideways Merlot appreciation night. This drop dead gorgeous wine is drinking beautifully right now. The nose is intensely aromatic, with loads of blackberry, plum, cedar, potting soil, florals and a very pleasant herbaceous quality. The palate is dense and layered, yet there is no shortage of finesse. Some very attractive cocoa and mint characteristics emerge on the palate. Lovely long finish. This is excellent.

1998 vintage

A private lunch with friends (Restaurant De Lage Vuursche, Lage Vuursche, NL) : Upper shoulder. Obviously mature, nutty and tertiary but still completely fresh, acidity is still perfectly integrated, good tannic grip, develops well with oxygen, wonderfully spicy like a mature vintage port, develops a ripe fruit character, lovely hint of sweetness, fresh and energetic palate and finish, very good length. Holds up well.

1958 vintage

Horrible TCA taint out of the gate. This bottle never had a chance. Very depressing.

1989 vintage

It is simply extraordinary. Translucent ruby colour, nose of grilled tomatos, a hint of Oriental spices, ripe leathery fruits, a hint of flowery notes, minty, ripe vanilla fruits. Rather sweet, round and full on the palate, still a bit young at the moment. A complete wine. Very well made, it is quite an unique experience! Now to 2038

1998 vintage

Decanted for 3 hours and then back into the bottle to take to dinner, this was still drinking very young. Brimming with juicy berry fruit, it was still tight even after the long decant, and only started to show its Cabernet Franc character near the end of dinner. Drinking the 1990 alongside may have made this seem immature by comparison. Our first bottle of 12.

1998 vintage

Are you sure?

Chateau Angelus, Saint-Emilion Grand Cru

Vintages

No vintages

Community Reviews