Saint-Emilion Classified Growth (revised 2006)  
Angelus - First Great Classified Growths - B

1991 Angelus - Saint-Emilion

Bordeaux, France

Sturdy bouquet associating scents of roasted meat, tobacco, blackcurrant liquor, graphite and menthol. Restricted mouth, not very bulky and a rather dull finish. Some participants blame its ligneous body. All in all 1991 Angelus is quite average.  87/100

1990 Angelus - Saint-Emilion

Mature rim. Teasing aromas of graphite, spices, cooked fruits, eucalyptus, liquorice, fig. Slight volatile acidity. 1990 Angelus is very pleasant, vinous with a beautiful grip. Long and lush which, in some way, reminds the vigorous character of a Chateauneuf-du-Pape. Intense, persistent and smooth finish. An awesome wine that gets even better after a couple of hours. 93/100

1989 Angelus - Saint-Emilion

1989 is the year where Chateau L'Angelus amended its name to Chateau Angelus in order to be listed at the top of the alphabetical classification of the Saint-Emilion growths.

The hue looks much younger than the 1990 Angelus. Deep, mineral and sharp attack, progressively delivering complex multi layers of blackcurrant syrup, clove, fig, black fruit, lead pencil aromas.. On the palate 1989 Angelus continues to impress me with waves of rich fruit and a juicy midpalate buttressed by good acidity and structure. The mouth has a smooth full-bodied texture and an imposing presence. Incredibly vivacious, 1989 Angelus shows a long deep and complex aftertaste. I was totally impressed by the charm and the tonicity of 89 Angelus. My WOTN! 96/100

1988 L'Angelus - Saint-Emilion

The nose reveals extremely annoying aromas of Soya sauce, grass, varied spices, dried boletus, coffee and black truffle. Medium-bodied and slightly unbalanced on the palate with too much acid content. Thin and green aftertaste with a bitter finish.  83/100

1986 L'Angelus - Saint-Emilion

Transparent ruby colour. Forward herbaceous nose, cocoa, brandy. Light in body. The shy flavours of red fruit, cedar and tobacco seem a bit washed out. Average length. 1986 L'Angelus globally lacks of coherence with astringent tannins and a short finish. 85/100

1985 L'Angelus - Saint-Emilion

Bordeaux, France

Tertiary aromas of leather, spices and cooked fruit.
Beautiful flesh, juicy fruit but sadly the finish of 1985 L'Angelus was a little bit difficult with hard tannins and too much acidity. 87/100

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1983 L'Angelus - Saint-Emilion

Very nice flowery nose with some ripe fruit, notes of liquorice, brandy and leather.
Medium to full body, round and soft. Reminds me of a beautiful mature Pinot. An elegant and positively surprising 1983 L'Angelus. 91/100

1982 L'Angelus - Saint-Emilion

Odd nose with underwood (mushrooms) and a metal odour. The wine's structure is narrow and little expressive. 1982 L'Angelus cruelly lacks of material and is dominated by an excessive alcohol touch. Falling finish. Very disappointing.. 84/100

1979 L'Angelus - Saint-Emilion

Dark red in the glass with little browning.
Clearly 1979 L'Angelus doesn't have the elegant structure of the 83 L’Angelus, thriftily delivering scents of ungrateful vegetable notes, sweet pepper, blackcurrant and liquorice.
The wine was medium bodied with a slightly simple aftertaste on fine sweet tobacco notes. It's a decent L'Angelus that starts to crack-up after a while. 86/100

1978 L'Angelus - Saint-Emilion

Disconcertingly poor olfactive flavours of peanut and plum notes. Wobbly, acid and empty body, with an unpleasant overripe apple taste. Scattered finish. 80/100

One could not imagine getting worse after the above mentioned 1978 Angelus. I was wrong!
Fleshy paperboard and Vietnamese Nuoc-Mam nose. The palate is totally washed out, dull, without consistency. Awfully acid (lemon juice) and almost undrinkable. 78/100

  Conclusions
- Overall it was a heterogeneous and disappointing flight of maturing L'Angelus, without any noticeable style or soil guideline.
- I was astounded by the beauty of 1989 and 1990 Angelus, and by the delicately harmonious 1983 L'Angelus following suit.
 

Other Angelus tasting: 2004 to 1992 Château Angélus

Laurent Gibet - for  ccvo-bg.org

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Bordeaux wine tasting by Chateau

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