The 2023 Angelus Bordeaux Blend from Saint Emilion, produced by the renowned Angelus estate, has garnered significant acclaim from wine critics for its exceptional quality and intricate composition. This red wine, a blend of 60% Merlot and 40% Cabernet Franc, showcases the region's terroir and the estate's meticulous winemaking practices.
James Suckling awarded this vintage an outstanding 98 points, noting its "transparency of fruit and finesse." He praised its "depth and beauty to the pristine, fresh fruit," describing it as "full-bodied and muscular with wonderful tannins that provide tension and form." Suckling highlighted that this wine is "subtle and weightless," making it a "thought-provoking young wine" (jamessuckling.com).
Robert Parker's Wine Advocate, through William Kelley, gave the 2023 Angelus a 96-point score. Kelley emphasized the wine's attractive aromas of "dark berries and plums mingled with hints of mint, potpourri, rose petals, vine smoke, and orange zest." He highlighted the wine's "pillowy fruit framed by supple, powdery tannins," and concluded with a "long, perfumed finish" (Robert Parker's Wine Advocate).
Vinous, with Neal Martin's review, also rated this vintage 96 points. Martin described it as "crisp and precise," with a "pleasant saline edge" and "fine-grained tannins." He noted that the wine might need "five or six years in bottle" to reach its full potential (Vinous).
Jane Anson described the wine with intricate details, noting flavors of "cocoa bean, liquorice, pomegranate, smoked earth, sage, anis, fennel, and slate tannins." She praised its "nuanced and sinewy tannins" and its "generous supple expansion through the palate," giving it 96 points (janeanson.com).
Decanter also bestowed a high score of 97 points, calling out its "gorgeous nose" and "full and filling, but soft and smooth" texture. They remarked on its "solid backbone of freshness and plush fruit," describing it as "serious but still with crunchy blueberries, chalky blackcurrant, and lots of graphite and minerality" (Decanter).
Jeff Leve, from The Wine Cellar Insider, echoed the high praise with a 98-point rating. He highlighted the bouquet of "flowers, mint, tobacco leaf, licorice, and black cherries," and noted the wine's "depth and concentration" yet "light on its feet" feel (TheWineCellarInsider.com).
Jeb Dunnuck awarded it 96 points, appreciating its "remarkable purity, ultra-fine tannins, and beautiful overall balance," describing it as "fresh, focused, precise" (jebdunnuck.com).
Lisa Perrotti-Brown from The Wine Independent gave it 98 points, mentioning its "energetic scents of wild blueberries, Morello cherries, and ripe plums" and the "finely knit mille-feuille of red, black, and blue fruit layers" (The Wine Independent).
In summary, the 2023 Angelus Bordeaux Blend stands out for its refined complexity, harmonious balance, and the exceptional craftsmanship of the Angelus estate, making it a highly recommended choice for collectors and enthusiasts alike.
