99
Jeb Dunnuck Tasting Note
Still youthful with a deep ruby hue, the 2010 Château Angelus is brilliant stuff and unquestionably ranks with the finest vintages of this cuvée, even if I still have a slight preference for the 2009. Classic Angelus aromatics of darker fruits, leafy tobacco, flowers, graphite, and truffly earth all emerge from the bouquet. It's big, rich, and full-bodied on the palate, yet it never puts a foot wrong and is flawlessly balanced, with ripe, building, unquestionably present tannins and a gorgeous finish. Tasted from multiple bottles, this majestic, utterly seamless, deep, layered beauty has some accessibility today yet will unquestionably cruise for another 30 years if well stored. Drink 2026-2056.
97
Wine Spectator Tasting Note
Got patience? You'll need it to wait this brute out fully. A chunk of tar sits between you and the core of black currant, hoisin sauce and roasted Black Mission fig fruit flavors, while the back end is a road-paving machine laying down a smoldering tarry track of tobacco and freshly ground coffee. And there's an iron note too, as if this needed it. One of the most backward wines of the vintage. Best from 2017 through 2040. (JM)
97
Vinous Tasting Note
The 2010 Angélus has a well-defined bouquet with intense black cherries, boysenberry, crushed stone and pressed violet petal aromas that are focused and well delineated. Frankly, this is a step up compared to some of its peers. The palate is medium-bodied with fine grain tannins, a superb bead of acidity, very cohesive and developing a slightly grainy texture towards the finish. Superb tension here, gentle grip with a gorgeous tarry, tobacco-tinged finish, this is a classy Angélus. Impressive. Tasted at the BI Wines & Spirits 10-Year On tasting.
99
James Suckling Tasting Note
The nose is impressively rich, with an opulence and sexiness showing earth, berry, spice and chocolate character. Black truffles! Full-bodied, with seamless tannins and beautiful richness. It goes on for minutes. The layers of fruit and ripe tannins are phenomenal. This is the greatest Angelus ever for me. Try in 2018.
99
Wine Advocate Tasting Note
This is another magnificent wine. How much fun will it be to have the 2000, 2005, 2009 and 2010 in future tastings to see which vintage comes out on top? They are all candidates that will flirt with perfection, depending on the state of their evolution. The 2010 has a similar color to the 2009, but is perhaps even more opaque, which seems almost impossible. Subtle barbecue smoke, graphite, blackberry liqueur, licorice and chocolate leap from the glass, and the wine hits the palate with a thunderous cascade of sweet, velvety, full-bodied, concentrated black fruits, nice definition from the tannins and decent acidity. The wine has a majestic, multi-layered finish that goes on for a minute. This magnificent wine is still frightfully young and somewhat unformed, but every bit as prodigious as its older sibling, the 2009. It will probably end up evolving on a slightly slower evolutionary track. However, it has 50 years of longevity.
