2004 L'Angelus Bordeaux Red

2004 L'Angelus

95 RP

Featured Review

This 7,500-case blend of 62% Merlot and 38% Cabernet Franc is one of the strongest wines of the vintage. A deep blue/purple hue is accompanied by classic aromas of smoky blueberries and blackberries as well as incense and floral notes in the background. A beautiful texture, opulence, flamboyance, and purity characterize this stunningly deep, full-bodied effort, another great success from proprietor Hubert de Bouard. Anticipated maturity: 2009-2022. Robert Parker

Robert Parker | 95 RP

Like the best of the St-Emilions of this vintage, Angélus seems to glow in the glass, the intensity of its color matched by the silken brocade of its tannin. My notes are all about the expression of those tannins-espresso beans, dark chocolate, relentless, aristocratic, too young to touch. The fruit reveals itself in merlot richness and cabernet franc power (a 60-40 blend), unlikely to show more detail before it's ten or 12 years old.

Wine & Spirits | 95 W&S

Full of dark fruits and sweet tobacco character. Full-bodied, with super fine, silky tannins and a long finish. Give it another three years.

James Suckling | 94 JS

Deep ruby. Wild aromas of plum, redcurrant, game, underbrush and flowers; hints of liqueur-like superripeness. Supple and suave but also rich and large-scaled; seriously concentrated and deep for the vintage but less sweet than the 2005. This boasts lovely texture and broad, ripe tannins but I find more intensity and incipient complexity-not to mention purity and lift-in the young 2006.

Vinous Media | 91 VM

Dark ruby in color, with coffee bean, meat and berry aromas. Full-bodied, with velvety tannins and a medium finish. I love the texture. Balanced and stylish. Best after 2010. 8,330 cases made.

Wine Spectator | 91 WS

Type of Wine	Bordeaux Red : Picture in your mind a combination of cedar, lead pencil, blackcurrant, plum and mineral aromatics, and texture that caresses your palate like a playful lover. The experience is thrilling from the first whiff to the final seconds of a tannic, generous finish - that is what you'll get from a Bordeaux Red
Varietal	Bordeaux Blend
Country	France : Wine is the lifeblood that courses through the country of France, pulsing with vigorous pride and determination. Viticulture is not just a hobby or an occupation in France; it is a passion, a cherished tradition that has been passed down through generations of wine stained hands. Winemaking is a beloved art that has been ingrained in the culture, an aptitude instilled in sons by fathers and the hallmark for which France’s reputation was built, allowing it to be renowned as, arguably, the most important wine producing country in the world. For centuries, France has been producing wines of superior quality and in much greater quantity than any other country in the world. It boasts some of the most impressive wine regions, coveted vineyards and prestigious wines on earth. The regions of Bordeaux, Burgundy, Rhone, Sauternes and Champagne have become the benchmark, for which others aspire to become. Legendary producers such as Chateaux Margaux, Domaine De La Romanee Conti, Chapoutier, d’Yquem and Dom Perignon are idolized world-wide. France has stamped its name on nearly every style of wine, from the nectar-like sweet Sauternes to hedonistic Chateauneuf Du Papes classic Bordeaux and Burgundy, to its sparkling dominance in Champagne. Many of the most infamous grape varietals in the world, such as Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Pinot Noir and Chardonnay originated in France and are not only beloved, but utilized in the creation of some of the greatest wines on earth. French wine production commands the attention of the wine market year after year. With over 860,000 hectares under vine, and numbers close to 50 million hectoliters of wine produced annually, France dominates the market and sets the standard for not only product quality, but also quantity. France’s many contributions to the world of wine have been absolutely indispensable. The country is the originator of the term “Premier Cru,” coined the term Terroir (a French term so complex there is no literal translation) and has laid the blueprint for a structured appellation system, which others have implemented in their own countries. French vineyard techniques and winemaking practices are mimicked world-wide. California vintners have been replicating Rhone style wines for decades, South America has adopted the French varietal of Malbec and countries around the world are imitating Burgundian styled Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. With vast diversity in terroir, France is home to some of the most hospitable winegrowing locations on earth. The combination of topography, geology, climate, rainfall and even the amount of sunlight combined with the long historical tradition of winegrowing and making, has allowed the vintners of France to not only hone their skills, but learn from nature to create a product that like the world in which it resides… is very much alive.