Angelus 1998

Tasted at Farr Vintners' vertical from ex-chateau magnum. The bouquet is well defined and much fresher and more complex than the 1999. Here we have lovely bright vivacious red-berried fruit with oyster shell and a scent that reminds me of walking round an old stately home. Very fine definition and the oak is seamlessly integrated. The palate is medium-bodied with fine tannins: very silky in the mouth, concentrated but with a great deal of tension and poise. Long and persistent towards the finish, this is a great Angelus that will repay extended cellaring. Tasted October 2011.

A dazzling effort, the 1998 boasts an opaque purple color in addition to an exceptional bouquet of smoke, licorice, plums, black raspberries, and blackberries. As the wine sits in the glass, coffee and chocolate also emerge. Full-bodied, flamboyant, well-delineated, and beautifully balanced as well as layered, with well-integrated tannin in the powerful, rich finish, this 1998 will be at its best between 2003-2020.