Angelus 2020

This is a vintage at Angélus that grips on from the first moment and expands through the palate, inching open and building layers of concentrated and ripe autumnal fruits of fig and blackberry, with crayon, slate, cocoa bean, chocolate cake, orange zest, smoked caramel. The floral expression of the Cabernet Franc comes in with white pepper spice, gorgeous depth of flavour. Plenty of Angélus exuberance if you give it time, with fresh acidities that lift off towards the finish. There is a tiny slice of Petit Verdot in this wine, but such a small amount that it isn't recorded as part of the blend. Ageing in a mix of oak barrels and larger oak casks,100% new oak. This continues to be bottled as Premier Grand Cru Classé A until the 2022 vintage, following its withdrawal from the ranking.

Score: 97

Jane Anson, Inside Bordeaux Maturity: 2027-2046 15 February 2023

The 2020 Angélus is shaping up to be tremendous. Bright and punchy, with terrific energy, the 2020 is more linear and focused than any recent vintages I can remember tasting. Crushed red berry fruit, iron, smoke, mint, chalk and dried herbs all build in the glass. In 2020, Angélus is less flashy than it can be. That is a very good thing, for those who can wait. Harvest took place between September 18 to 30. One of the major evolutions here in recent years has been the use of foudres to age the Cabernet Franc. Half of the Franc is now raised in large format oak, and that seems to bringing added freshness to the Grand Vin.

Score: 96 - 98

Antonio Galloni, Vinous.com Maturity: 2025-2060 01 June 2021

The 2020 Angélus was given 30–40 minutes to open. It has a very intense nose of multilayered blackberry, blueberry and wild strawberry scents, crushed violet and hints of iodine. It is quintessential Angélus in many ways, sleek and smooth, harmonious and seductive. Those qualities also come through on the palate. This is framed by fine tannins, the Cabernet components coming through strongly on the midpalate. Quite ferrous in some ways, allspice and subtle minty notes lending complexity toward the finish. It is not quite as persistent as the recently tasted 2018 from bottle, but it comes across a little more chiseled and intellectual.

Score: 95 - 97

Neal Martin, Vinous.com Maturity: 2027-2055 01 May 2021

The 2020 Angélus has an opaque purple-black color, pulling you in with a captivating perfume of kirsch, Black Forest cake, ripe plums, violets and molten licorice, followed by wafts of underbrush, raspberry leaves and graphite, plus a hint of clove oil. The medium to full-bodied palate already offers beautiful balance and expression at this nascent stage, featuring bright, crunchy red and black fruits with remarkable energy and tension. Its amazingly plush, silken texture carries all these shimmering flavors to a very long and fragrant finish. This jaw-dropping expression of 2020 is simply stunning. The blend this year is 40% Cabernet Franc and 60% Merlot, due to be aged 18-22 months in French oak barriques, 100% new, and two new foudres. The wine has pH of 3.65 pH and an alcohol of 14.5%.

Score: 98 - 100

Lisa Perrotti-Brown MW, Wine Advocate, RobertParker.com Maturity: 2027 - 2062 20 May 2021

This is wonderfully refined and balanced with such pretty depth. Full-bodied and so polished and pure. Subtle at first, then it takes off and keeps coming. Sophisticated. 60% merlot and 40% cabernet franc.

Score: 98 - 99

James Suckling, JamesSuckling.com 20 April 2021