If any wine in the tasting fits the 'exuberant' personality of a Year of the Dragon wine, it is this Angélus 2012 that is barely getting out of the starting gates at 12 years old. Confident and powerful, with supple tannins that are still holding the dominant blackberry, damson, pomegranate and grilled sandalwood character in line. As things open, smoked vanilla bean, espresso, tuermic, black chocolate and orange peel join them, layered and complex. Will benefit from another five years in bottle before reaching its full drinking window, or give it a good long carafe. This was the year that Angélus was promoted to Premier Grand Cru Classé A, a position that would only last a decade until they withdrew from the classification in 2022. Hubert de Bouard owner, Emmanuelle Fulchi techincal director.

Just a beauty, this continues to improve in bottle. Deeply colored, and already showing secondary notes of smoke, truffle, plums, cherries and flowers, the wine is full bodied, deep, silky, long and fresh. The endnote is completed by the dusty tannins and hit of dark chocolate. This is good now, and it's only going to get better from here! Give it another 7-8 years and this will just start singing...96 Read more at:https://www.thewinecellarinsider.com/search-wine-tasting-notes/?szSearch=2012%20Angelus

Exotically perfumed, with ripe, lushly textured fruit. A complete and showy example of great, polished modern claret at its best, when the owner was successfully pulling out all the stops to upgrade the property’s classification.

Quite a shy nose, with delicate red-fruit aromas that pull you into this filigree St.-Emilion, the subtle fruit aromas beautifully underlined by the fine tannins that give this wonderful precision and clarity right through the long, elegant finish. Excellent herbal complexity and a lot of freshness there. Drink or hold. Château Quintus vertical tasting. SP.

Tasted blind as a vintage comparison at the Valandraud vertical, the 2012 Angelus has a forward and generous bouquet of mulberry, boysenberry, orange rind and slithers of tangerine. It is undoubtedly detailed and energetic, a subtle marine scent surfacing with continued aeration. The palate is medium-bodied with rounded and supple tannin, slightly honeyed in texture yet with a keen line of acidity running through it. Impressive body and mass, yet primal, surly and broody. Perhaps only now is it starting to flex its muscles. This is a well crafted and opulent Saint Emilion with a long future ahead and it may warrant a higher score in the future. Those who cellar this for over a decade will see this in full flight. Tasted December 2016. - Neal Martin

Medium to deep garnet colored, the 2012 Angelus comes barreling out with notions of Indian spices, dried mulberries, and prunes with hints of camphor, cardamom, and cigar box. Medium to full bodied, the palate has a sturdy structure of firm, chewy tannins and plenty of freshness to support the exotic, spice-laced fruit preserves flavors, finishing on a lingering mineral note.

In its gold-embossed bottle to celebrate the elevation of Angélus to Premier Grand Cru Classé A in the Saint-Émilion hierarchy, this perfumed wine bursts from the glass. The tannins are totally enveloped by the ripe black plum and berry fruits. With 45% Cabernet Franc in the blend, it is rich and generous, with licorice and black chocolate flavors. Drink this opulent wine from 2022.

Dark and intense, with vivid tobacco and espresso notes coursing through, while the core of dark fig, black currant and blackberry fruit sits in reserve. Extra charcoal, burnished leather and warm stone notes all add range and texture on the finish, while a bolt of iron keeps everything pinned down. Needs a bit of time to soak up its oak. Best from 2018 through 2030. 9,165 cases made.

The 2012 Angélus has a fragrant bouquet: a mixture of red and black fruit, truffle, crushed stone and light wilted flower scents. Very pretty. The palate is medium-bodied with fine delineation and good acidity, quite sappy with modest depth. Fairly structured with a dash of white pepper and peppermint on the finish. This Angélus has tons of personality and is drinking well now. Tasted twice at Bordeaux Index's Ten Year-On tasting and blind at the Southwold Ten-Year On tasting. -- Neal Martin