2016 Chateau Angelus

100 POINTS

Roger Voss - Wine Enthusiast

This is a rich, perfumed wine, with dense tannins and intense layers of black plum and spice. The palate is firmly built yet broadened out by plump dark-fruit tones and honed by a solid, dry core. Drink from 2025.

99 POINTS

James Suckling

Subtle and profound aromas of blackberries, wet earth and sweet tobacco. Hints of spice, too. Full-bodied and so deep. It’s incredibly vertical and long. Just like looking down a well. Firm and powerful tannins, yet polished and balanced. Goes on for minutes. One of the greatest ever. Try after 2025.

99 POINTS

James Suckling

Incredible depth of fruit to this Angélus, which is dense yet also agile and energetic. There’s just so much dynamic fruit and tannin structure. Makes you want to taste and taste. What a young wine! We will see if 2016 is better than 2015. Both are great. Points: 99-100

98 POINTS

Stuart Pigott - JamesSuckling.com

Lovely nose of fresh plum, almond and vanilla. Both rich and firmly structured, the biscuit-like texture married to beautiful ripeness. And this dynamic drives the wine over the palate and off into the distance. So vibrant at the long, stony finish. Drinkable now, but best from 2024. Château Quintus vertical tasting. SP.

98 POINTS

Roger Voss - Wine Enthusiast

97–99. Barrel Sample. This wine is certainly structured, but it is the fruit that gives it its greatness. Beautiful ripe berries and plums burst from the glass. They are backed by ample tannins on the palate, as well as great acidity that gives the year its freshness. It is a very fine wine, packed with fruit and with everything it needs to age for many years.

98 POINTS

Peter Moser - Falstaff

Deep dark ruby garnet, firm core, purple reflections, subtle brightening on the rim. Fine noble wood aromas, delicate clove and cardamom, floral perfume, fine dark berry fruit, a hint of tangerine zest, very elegant. Substantial and tightly meshed on the palate without appearing too powerful or opulent. Perfectly balanced tannins that gradually intensify, blackberry and nougat on the finish, mineral and long. A Vin de Garde that you need to keep hidden away as it already has so much to offer.

98 POINTS

Jane Anson - Decanter

We are right at the top of the scale here. Richly textured, full of natural power and force yet delivered with elegance and eucalyptus freshness. A brilliant vintage for Cabernet Franc, which helped sculpt what is a gourmet and rich wine complete with liquorice, clove and tar. Brilliant, delivering even better than it did last time I tasted it, and one that has many decades ahead. Harvest October 4th to 21st. 100% new oak but already well integrated.

97 POINTS

Jane Anson - Decanter

A wonderful Angélus, rich in the character of this vintage. Stunning length on the silky tannins. This extends outwards, and the architecture is very much more linear than circular (as it is in some vintages), with a lovely freshness and power. I just love how effortless this feels, with deeply intense black fruits and a dried herb edge. The flesh isn't overt but absolutely present. Likely to take on some more weight over time and it will certainly take its time to reach its perfect drinking window. Wonderful sense of energy, power and intensity, yet it's so drinkable now. The 100% new oak is very well-integrated, a brilliant success. Blend is 60% Merlot, 40% Cabernet Franc, with the lowest pH for many years at 3.7 (the 2009 more like 3.9), mainly because the wide temperature differences between day and night slowed down the maturing process and kept freshness.