Medium garnet-brick in color, the 2000 Angélus comes galloping out of the glass with a powerful nose of fragrant earth, damp soil, iron ore and cigar box over a core of prunes, blackberry jam and dried mulberries. Medium-bodied, the palate is elegantly styled with great freshness and loads of earth and mineral-inspired layers, framed by grainy tannins, finishing with a lingering menthol lift. It is in a sweet spot for drinking right now, although it should go on for another 15-20 years. - Lisa Perrotti-Brown

Tasted at the estate during the Connoisseur Week in June 2022, this was the wine of the night among tough competition. Packed with waves of flavour that turn from understated to dominant as it unrolls in the glass, changing each moment in the way that only truly great wines can manage. The texture is dominated by velvety tannins and supple fruits, blackberry, passion fruit, damson puree, turmeric, espresso, tar and smoked earth, with tannins that are just on the edge of austere even at 22 years old, suggesting that although this is at a great moment to drink it is going nowhere. 100% new oak, Hubert de Boüard owner and winemaker at the time.

Compelling in every sense of the word, the star of the show is all the perfectly ripe, silky berries cloaked in layers of velvet-textured tannins on the palate. The seemingly endless finish, with its layers of plums, chocolate fudge, black cherries, spice, and earthy nuances keeps you coming back for sip after sip. The only issue here is that the bottle is emptied faster than you'd like.

A blend of 60% Merlot and 40% Cabernet Franc, the 2000 Angelus has a deep garnet color, with a touch of brick. It comes bounding out of the glass with expressive, mature scents of baked black cherries, prunes, and boysenberry preserves, followed by nuances of cigar box, new leather, fennel seed, and iron ore. The medium-bodied palate has a seductively satiny texture, with well-knit freshness supporting the fragrant black fruit preserve layers, finishing long and earthy. Drinking beautifully now, it still has a good 20-25 years+ to go! - Lisa Perrotti-Brown

This shows some extraction and is very solidly built, as the core plum, black currant and fig paste flavors have flesh and density that unfurl slowly in the glass, but there's energy and freshness to match, thanks to mouthwatering ganache and licorice root notes and brambly tannins. A strong roasted apple wood element gives the finish range and length. A bit of a chest-thumper, but "it ain't bragging if it's true."—Blind 2000 Bordeaux retrospective (December 2015). Drink now through 2030. - JM

Gorgeous, this has the classic 2000 shoulders and depth, which at 20 years old have softened into melted tannins and deep berry fruits. There is a little more lift in the 2001 at the moment, but the 2000 is packed with welcoming black truffles, soft tobacco, woodsmoke, cocoa beans and saffron. There is still clear freshness with its bitter black chocolate and crushed mint finish, but the main takeaway is of pleasure and extended enjoyment. Right at the beginning of its tertiary phase, getting settled in on its haunches for the long term. Harvest September 14 to 27.

Furnished with wonderful richness, this has notes of amazingly dark fruit and dark chocolate on the nose. Full-bodied and soft, this has a lovely velvety texture and a chocolate and coffee character. This is extensive and fresh, with hints of mint and spice on the finish. Don’t drink this for another five years, pull the cork in 2015.

The 2000 Angélus (which, incidentally, was the first vintage where the bottle was embossed with the château name) is one that I have tasted many times, though not recently. Showing minor degradation at its rim, it displays a core with a healthy deep hue. The bouquet is concentrated and intense, plenty of red fruit mingling with melted tar and leather, and perhaps a little more gourmand/animally than I was expecting. The palate is medium-bodied with a slight bitterness on the entry, and delivers good weight and girth, though compared to recent vintages it is patently clear that there is not the same clarity or tension. Quite ferrous, especially with aeration. -- Neal Martin