Chateau Angelus Saint Emilion 2022
(Bordeaux, France) - [DM 100] [JS 99] [JL 99] [FS 99] [JD 98+] [WA 97+] [VM 97]

About the Winery:
Château Angélus is known for its complex, structured and particularly elegant wines, whose refinement is only matched by the family passion that gave them birth. The estate has been owned by the Boüard de Laforest family since the Domaine de Mazerat was bequeathed to Comte Maurice de Boüard de Laforest in 1910. It was expanded by the acquisition of Clos de L'Angélus in 1922 by Elisabeth Bouchet his wife and a plot from Château Beau-Séjour Bécot in 1969. The name refers to the three Angelus bells audible from the vineyards, coming from the chapel at Mazerat, the church in Saint-Martin de Mazerat and Saint-Émilion. The château also produces a second wine named Carillon d’Angélus (since 1987) and a third wine, No. 3 d’Angélus.

Château Angélus was designated a Grand Cru Classé when the Saint-Émilion classification was created in 1955, due to its already outstanding reputation. In 2012, it reached the pinnacle, achieving the title of Premier Grand Cru Classé "A," a distinction it held until the 2021 vintage. In early 2022, the Domaine opted to withdraw from the classification, the next edition of which was scheduled to be officially announced in September of that year. Consequently, from the 2022 vintage onward, the Château Angélus label will only bear the Grand Cru de Saint-Émilion designation.

About the Wine:
Château Angélus is planted in a 27-hectare vineyard, on slopes with clay soils, as well as on pied-de-côte with clay-limestone soils. For the 2022 vintage, the grape varieties are 60% Merlot and 40% Cabernet Franc. The wines are aged for 18 to 22 months in French oak barrels.

Ratings & Reviews

100 Points - Decanter:
"A vintage of precision and aromatic purity, this is one of the finest Angélus wines ever made. A blend of 60% Merlot, 40% Cabernet Franc, the nose is heady and complex, filled with dark chocolate, cherries, blackcurrants, violets, and rose. On the palate, it's silky, scintillating, and fresh, with a crystalline clarity and balance that feels almost effortless. Chalky yet creamy tannins add depth, while flashes of heat and liquorice spice on the finish bring structure and length. Juicy, deep, and incredibly moreish, this dances across the palate with finesse and vibrancy. A wine of energy, persistence, and sheer sophistication. 100% new oak (50% Cab Franc in foudre). 3.7 pH. 75 IPT. Organic. Drinking Window: 2028-2050." -Georgie Hindle (Dec 2024)

99 Points - James Suckling:
"This is a powerful Angelus, showing incredible depth and intensity as well as tannins that are totally melted into the wine, giving incredible energy for such a young bottle. It makes me think of the great reds of the 1940s or 1950s but with modern precision. Full-bodied but agile, this has endless length, the blackberries and crushed stones, light herbs and dark chocolate showing throughout. Such balance. Al dente. 60% merlot and 40% cabernet franc. So attractive now but will age forever." -James Suckling (Jan 2025)

99 Points - The Wine Cellar Insider:
"Deeply colored, the wine is all about its elegance in the texture. The fruits offer a level of purity and refinement that was not present in older vintages. Perfectly balanced, vibrant, long and intense, the wine is incredibly sensuous, velvety, and silky. The level of concentration remains, but the sensation here is now one of sensuality, balance, and sophistication. The silky, pure, red and black pit fruits with a cool touch of orange rind remain with you for close to 60 seconds. Fermentation at cooler temperatures and no sulfur during the fermentations helped maintain the wines elegance and purity. The wine blends 60% Merlot, and 40% Cabernet Franc, 14.5% ABV, 3.65 pH. Harvesting took place, September 6 - September 28. Drink from 2027-2060." -Jeff Leve (May 2023)

99 Points - Falstaff:
"Dark ruby in colour with an opaque core, purple reflections, and subtle brightening on the rim. On the nose, an inviting bouquet of subtle sweet tobacco, a hint of herbs, fine red berry nuances, subtle nougat, and orange zest in the background. The elegant, silky palate is juicy with ripe cherry fruit, delicately spicy nuances with fine fruit, great freshness, and barely noticeable, finely polished tannins. Already very accessible, this is a delicate food wine equipped with considerable length and great ageing potential."

98+ Points - Jeb Dunnuck:
"Moving to the Grand Vin, the 2022 Château Angelus is 60% Merlot and 40% Cabernet Franc that spent 21 months in 100% new barrels, with a portion of the Cabernet Franc in foudre. It reveals a pure ruby/purple hue as well as stunning aromatics of black raspberries, cassis, spring flowers, and graphite that show more floral nuances with time in the glass. It's incredibly well-balanced, has fine tannins, and a rare mix of purity, finesse, and richness. It's an absolutely gorgeous Angelus that deserves a decade in the cellar and will cruise for 40+ years. The style here has shifted considerably towards elegance and finesse, sometimes at the expense of texture and richness, yet this classic beauty delivers perfectly balanced richness, depth, and elegance. Drinking Window: 2035-2075." -Jeb Dunnuck (Feb 2025)

97+ Points - Robert Parker's Wine Advocate:
"The 2022 Angélus has turned out beautifully in bottle, reflecting the estate's shift toward a livelier, more integrated style. Wafting from the glass with aromas of sweet cherries, blackberries and mulberries mingled with rose petals and violets, it's full-bodied, velvety and concentrated, with a deep, enveloping core of succulent fruit, integrated tannins and a long, perfumed finish. It was bottled in the last week of July 2024. Drinking Window: 2030-2055." -William Kelley (Mar 2025)

97 Points - Vinous:
"The 2022 Angélus is still very contained on the nose, therefore, for this sample, I transferred the wine several times between two glasses in order to pry it open. It has a delineated and tensile bouquet, with blackberry, briar and light marine scents percolating through with time. Hints of oyster shell emerge from the limestone soils. The palate is medium-bodied, fresh and saline, with gentle grip, fine tannins and a poised, persistent finish. There is a linearity to this Angélus that I appreciate due to the 40% Cabernet Franc. It's very minerally on the aftertaste. This is an excellent Angélus that will age perhaps more slowly than its peers. Drinking Window: 2028-2050." -Neal Martin (Feb 2025)