2010 Château Angélus, St Emilion, Bordeaux

This is another magnificent wine. How much fun will it be to have the 2000, 2005, 2009 and 2010 in future tastings to see which vintage comes out on top? They are all candidates that will flirt with perfection, depending on the state of their evolution. The 2010 has a similar color to the 2009, but is perhaps even more opaque, which seems almost impossible. Subtle barbecue smoke, graphite, blackberry liqueur, licorice and chocolate jump from the glass, and the wine hits the palate with a thunderous cascade of sweet, velvety, full-bodied, concentrated black fruits, nice definition from the tannins and decent acidity. The wine has a majestic, multilayered finish that goes on for a minute. This magnificent wine is still frightfully young and still somewhat unformed, but every bit as prodigious as its older sibling, the 2009. This will probably end up evolving on a slightly slower evolutionary track. However, it has 50 years of longevity in it.Robert M. Parker, Jr. - 28/08/2015

Very dark crimson. Manages to be both savoury and luscious on the nose. Thick and dense and very sweet on the finish. All stops pulled out to make an impression! Very firm finish after great riches. Dry, slightly tarry finish. jancis_robinson_mw MW- jancis_robinson_mw.com April 2011)

In the same league as the amazing ’09 but an even bigger structure here. Telltale saturated colour. Busy, complex nose with spice, cacao and violet (45% Cabernet Franc) notes. Ripe, succulent fruit on the palate but not overblown. Lingering freshness behind. Powerful but refined tannins. Long, persistent finish.

The 2010 Ch. Angélus is really fine, with gorgeous mouthfeel to the notes of blueberry, plum and black cherry preserves. Shows alluring black tea and incense hints in the background, with ample, iron-tinged grip on the finish. This has density and elegance. Impressive. (james_molesworth – The Wine Spectator – Mar 2011)

An absolutely spectacular wine from this estate, run with meticulous precision by Hubert de Bouard, the opaque bluish/purple 2010 Angelus offers up a beautifully sweet smorgasbord of aromas ranging from blueberry pie to espresso roast, white chocolate, creme de cassis, licorice, truffle and a touch of lead pencil shavings. There is even a floral underpinning to this extraordinary, highly-scented, full-bodied wine. Rich, layered and built like a skyscraper, this multi-dimensional Angelus has lavish concentration and moderately high tannin, but it is sweet and well-integrated, as is the oak. Just enough acidity provides focus and delineation to this exceptionally well-endowed wine, which should hit its prime in 7-10 years and last 30-40. (98 robert_parker- Wine Advocate- Feb 2013) A blend of 55% Merlot and 45% Cabernet Franc cropped at 32 hectoliters per hectare, the 2010 may not hit the peaks of the extraordinary 2009 or 2005, but it is another fabulous wine from proprietor Hubert de Bouard. It boasts an inky/blue/purple color along with abundant aromas of acacia flowers, blueberry liqueur, black raspberries, licorice and subtle toasty oak in the background. A notion of graphite emerges as the wine sits in the glass, which tends to be a characteristic of Angelus. Long, rich, dense and full-bodied with high but well-integrated tannins, it will rival the 1989 and 1990 as well as the 2009 and 2005 as one of the finest wines made at this estate. At present, the 2009 has a slight edge because of its more sumptuous texture. Nevertheless, the 2010 is a great wine with a future of at least 30 years! (94-96+ robert_parker- Wine Advocate- May 2011)

2010 was the point at which everyone was sitting up and taking notice of Angélus, two years before they were officially recognised as a First Growth in the 2012 ranking. Extremely silky and concentrated, still knitted down and nowhere near ready to go. The Cabernet Franc side here is blossoming into violet freshness, accompanied step for step with blackberry, bilberry and crushed raspberry puree. The fruit is deep and concentrated, there is accompanying spice, cherry pits, grilled cinnamon and licorice but the overall feeling is of controlled, confident, autumnal fruit brushed over with a mineral-edged uplift through the finish. Great stuff here.jane_anson_mw, Decanter (January 2020)