1998 Angelus
By Chateau Angelus
1998 Angelus from Château Angelus, Saint-Emilion, Bordeaux
The 1998 vintage for the Bordeaux region heralds a particular opulence, with producers navigating a year that began tempestuously but mellowed into an Indian summer, offering optimal ripening conditions. Amidst this climatic dance, 1998 Angelus from Château Angelus emerged as a beautifully structured example of Saint-Emilion's prowess.
Precise Pedigree: An Investment in Excellence
In an era when seasoned investors seek provenance and pedigree in equal measure, the 1998 Angelus offers a reassuringly illustrious lineage. The Château's relentless pursuit of quality is evident in this vintage, making it a discerning choice for the astute investor.
A Symphony of Seasons in a Glass
The early wrath of 1998's spring rain and hail gave way to a remarkably benevolent late-season crescendo. This turn of events sculpted a wine rich with complexity. In the glass, the 1998 Angelus weaves an intricate tapestry of ripe blackberries and cherries underscored by exquisite tannic backbone – the result of an August and September that gifted winegrowers with both warmth and dryness.
This Saint-Emilion jewel embodies the essence of its Merlot and Cabernet Franc composition, yet it is the intangible whisper of the terroir – that deep minerality and delicate spiciness – which animates and distinguishes it within its class.
The passage of two decades has seen the 1998 Angelus round out its vigour, settling into a composition marked by supple layers of dark fruit compote harmoniously entwined with hints of truffle, tobacco, and a lingering finish that insists on unhurried contemplation.
A Visionary Vantage Point
In reflection, the 1998 vintage from Saint-Emilion stands as a beacon for those who appreciate wines that speak of their moment in history as much as their genesis in geography. For the investor as much as the enthusiast, the 1998 Angelus from Château Angelus encapsulates this narrative brilliantly, presenting not only a gustatory pleasure but also an astute addition to any portfolio seeking depth, diversity, and distinction.
Market price (GBP)
£4,410.00
12x75cl
Highest score
98
POP score
245
Scores and tasting notes
The 1998 Angélus, a blend of 40% Cabernet Franc and 60% Merlot, is deep garnet colored with a touch of brick. The nose is completely...WOW! It has an incredible array of smoked meats, incense, cigar box and dusty earth notions over a core of baked cherries, dried mulberries, preserved plums and dried roses with wafts of lavender, menthol and new leather. The palate is medium to full-bodied, rich, intense and packed with black fruit preserves accented by complex savory and earth-inspired flavors, supported by wonderful freshness, textured by plush tannins and finishing with fantastic tension. This still has loads of life—25+ more years!
Lisa Perrotti-Brown - The Wine Advocate, 31 May 2018
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.
Neal Martin - Wine Journal Mar 2012
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.
Robert Parker Jr - Wine Advocate #134 Apr 2001