Wow. This is really decadent and fascinating with forest flowers, chocolate, tea and currants on the nose, which follows through to a firm and silky palate with lots of fruit and balance. Very long and beautiful. Citrusy undertones. Needs five or six years of bottle age to show it all. Feb 2017, www.jamessuckling.com
James SucklingScore: 96/100
Tim Atkin MWScore: 95/100
Features base notes of bittersweet ganache and smoldering tobacco, with dark plum, currant and fig fruit flavors. Despite the charcoal thread, this is lush and integrated, showing no aggressive edges at all. The tobacco accent chimes in at the end for added effect. - J.M. Wine Spectator, April 2015.
Wine SpectatorScore: 93-96/100
"The 2014 Angélus, equal parts Merlot and Cabernet Franc, boasts superb depth and textural richness. Firm tannins give the 2014 its explosive energy and overall tension. Mocha, espresso, new leather, French oak and licorice gradually open up in the glass, but with some reluctance. The 2014 will need quite a bit of time to find its more finessed side, but it's there."
Antonio Galloni, VinousScore: 93-96/100
Very dark: you can barely see through it. Black-ish purple in the centre. Creamy rich fruit in the mouth. This has been worked a little, but skilfully so. Clean and creamy and this stays in the mouth. Very Angelus, and complete. This should blossom. Very good. Joss Fowler, FINE+RARE, April 2015.
FINE+RAREScore: 92-95/100
The 2014 Angelus has developed with some panache during its barrel maturation and now in bottle, it conveys attractive blackberry, briary and vanilla pod aromas, the oak neatly integrated. It is not the most powerful bouquet that Hubert de Bouard de Laforest has ever overseen, though it offers precision and focus. The palate is medium-bodied with fine tannin, a crisp line of acidity, quite compact and linear in the mouth with a subtle oyster-shell note that tinctures the black fruit towards the persistent finish. It is no showstopper, yet there is craftsmanship and terroir-expression here and it should drink well for two decades. Mar 2017, www.robertparker.com
Neal MartinScore: 93/100
Bordeaux / France