CHÂTEAU ANGÉLUS

The 2016 Angelus is a blend of 40% Cabernet Franc and 60% Merlot with much of the production zoning in on the more clayey soils that are ideal in a dry growing season like this. Picked from 4 to 21 October and matured entirely in new oak, it has a very intense bouquet with multilayered blackcurrant, blueberry and floral notes, very refined and precise, not unlike the 2010 in some ways, but I would argue this is more sophisticated. The palate is medium-bodied with fine tannin, crisp acidity, symmetrical in terms of focus with just the right amount of sappiness on the saline finish. It is a superb Angelus from the de Boüard family, destined to give pleasure over many, many years. Once in bottle, I expect it to land towards the top of my banded scale. Drinking range: 2026 - 2060 Rating: 96-98 Neal Martin, www.vinous.com (Apr 2017)

Strong balsam notes. Rather luscious fruit and lots of life and interest. Real vivacity. In this wine, in this stable, although it has a drying finish, the fruit is so overwhelming that it distracts from the drying finish. Well done in a distinctly modernist style. Though the finish is a little weak. Drinking range: 2027 - 2042 Rating: 17++ Jancis Robinson OBE MW - www.JancisRobinson.com (Apr 2017)

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. Rating: 99-100 James Suckling, www.jamessuckling.com (Apr 2017)

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. Drinking range: 2027 - 2050 Rating: 97 Jane Anson, Decanter (Apr 2017)

One of the more surprising wines of the vintage, the 2016 Angélus shows a level of finesse that has not exactly been the norm here in recent years. Persistent and energetic on the palate, the 2016 Angélus boasts tons of nuance, with plenty of detail in all of its elements. A closing burst of Cabernet Franc-inflected floral and spice overtones give the wine an exotic flair. The 2016 is a fabulous Angélus. It's as simple as that. Rating: 94 - 97+ Antonio Galloni, www.vinous.com (Apr 2017)

Angélus is in a rich vein of form at the moment, with the quality of the wines living up to the ambitions of the owners. Dense, powerful and concentrated, with plum, damson and black fig flavours, some Asian spices, rich, scented oak and a long, refreshing finish. A wine to tuck away for a decade or more. Drinking range: 2028 - 2040 Rating: 97 Tim Atkin MW, www.timatkin.com (Apr 2017)