Château Angelus 1993
Review of the Estate
Named Chateau Angelus because the sound of the Angelus bells, from three, different, nearby churches that can all be heard in the vineyard at the same time, for eight generations the De Bouard de Laforest family have owned and run Chateau Angelus which is situated in Saint-Émilion. Today, Chateau Angelus is headed by Stèphanie de Bouard.
In 1954, Chateau Angelus became a classed growth and, in 1996, it was further elevated from Grand Cru Classè to Premier Grand Cru Classè B. In 2012 Chateau Angelus was again raised, to what is the region's highest classification level, Premier Grand Cru Classè A.
The grapes harvested at Chateau Angelus are meticulously sorted in the cellar, using three sorting tables, and fermentation takes place in temperature-controlled, stainless steel tanks, concrete tanks, and oak vats. After fermentation, Chateau Angelus wine is racked into new, oak barrels. Blending and assemblage is carried out following the first summer of ageing. Then the wine is then aged for another 20-26 months.
Vineyard
Surface area: 57.8 acres
Grape Varieties: 50% Merlot, 47% Cabernet Franc and 3% Cabernet Sauvignon
Average age of vines: 30 years
Density of plantation: 7,000 - 8,000 vines per hectare
Average yields: 32 hectoliters per hectare
Average cases produced: 6,000 per year
Plateau of maturity: 4 - 25 years
Château Angelus 1993 Reviews / Tasting Notes
Robert Parker - The Wine Advocate
Point Score: 92
In the new classification of St.-Emilion, justice was certainly served with the elevation of Angelus to premier grand cru classe status. No Bordeaux estate has been making as concentrated and consistently high quality wines as has Angelus since 1988. Even in the rain-plagued vintage of 1992, Angelus produced a wine of uncommon power, ripeness, and intensity. This estate is in many ways symbolic of what heights Bordeaux can achieve when a property is managed by someone as passionate and driven as Hubert de Bouard. As I have been writing for the last decade, these are wines to buy at first release; they can only go up in price given their quality. One of the four or five most concentrated wines of the vintage, this opaque, black/purple-colored 1993 offers an intensely fragrant nose of smoke, olives, chocolate, black fruits, hickory, and sweet, spicy oak. Amazingly rich and full-bodied, with massive extract, it is almost unbelievable that this wine could have been produced in a vintage such as 1993. Give it 3-4 years of cellaring, and drink it over the following 15-18 years.
Wine Spectator
Point Score: 90
As outstanding as we remember from barrel. Ripe and seductive, a full-bodied St.-Emilion that stands out for this vintage. Oozes with plum, red berry, chocolate, tobacco and smoke flavors. Beautiful texture, elegant tannins and an impressive finish. Best after 1998. 9,583 cases made.
Jancis Robinson
Point Score: 15.5/20
Solid colour. Sweet, ripe Merlot nose High toned, quite appealing nose. Real lift. Good balance, prettier than 1994. Good fruit in the middle. Quite supple. Pretty. Round. Ready. Fine tannins have disappeared. This would make great drinking now if it's not too expensive.