Angélus St-Émilion 2005

100 points Robert Parker: "Truly great stuff, this wine performed at a three-digit level both in the horizontal tasting of 2005s in Baltimore, as well as in Montreal at this mini-vertical. This sensational, opaque, bluish/purple wine offers up notes of vanillin, spring flowers, blueberry and blackberry liqueur, plus a touch of licorice. The wine hits the palate with a thunderous cascade of ripe, rich, concentrated fruit. It is full-bodied, multidimensional and layered. The tannins are beautifully integrated but still present, and the wood, acidity, alcohol, etc., are all beautifully assimilated in this magnificent, majestic vintage of Angelus. It can be drunk now, but it is still an adolescent and that suggests it has at least another 25-35 years of longevity. (Aug 2015)"

100 points Jeb Dunnuck: "The 2005 Angelus is as good as it gets, and despite having 2-3 decades of prime drinking ahead of it, is as profound a drinking experience as money can buy even today. Offering off the hook notes of blackcurrants, smoked herbs, blackberries, toasted spice, espresso and scorched earth, this beauty is unctuous and opulent on the palate, with incredible depth, yet never seems heavy, cumbersome or over the top. It has more depth and concentration than the 1990 (and I suspect any vintage in the 1990s or 2000s) and will keep for another 30 years or more. Drink: 2017-2047. (12/12/17)"

99 points (19.5/20), Decanter: "Still very much primary aromas, although softening around the edges. Plum, slightly toasted, generous. Not a lot of evolution in colour. Liquorice on the palate, warm vintage aromatics give this a joyful, generous feeling, with vanilla bean and cloves. The 38% Cabernet Franc is clear, ensuring a pulse of acidity. Drink: 2015-2045. Alcohol 14.5%. (Jul 2015)"

98 points Antonio Galloni (Vinous): "The 2005 Angélus is a gorgeous wine. Inky red fruit, mocha, espresso, dried flowers and iron give this potent, explosive Saint-Émilion tons of richness. The style is dense and heavily extracted - as was the norm at the time - and yet the 2005 is impeccably balanced. This is a magnificent showing from Hubert de Boüard, who has done so much to elevate the status of this once under-achieving property. Drink: 2022-2035. (Apr 2021)"

98 points Lisa Perrotti-Brown (The Wine Independent): "The 2005 Angelus is a blend of 60% Merlot and 40% Cabernet Franc. Deep garnet-brick in color, it sings straight away of dried blackberries, Christmas pudding, and chocolate-covered cherries with nuances of new leather, tobacco, star anise, and espresso, plus a waft of potpourri. Full-bodied, super rich, and concentrated, it has firm, chewy tannins and a lively line, finishing long and savory. Open and flamboyant right now, with loads of tertiary characters on offer, don't hesitate to enjoy it today, and it should easily keep for another 20-25 years+. Alcohol 14.5%. Drink: 2022-2047. (7/20/22)"

98 points Bettane & Desseauve's Guide to the Wines of France: "The best Angelus of recent history: deep color; distinguished nose; wonderful, harmonious volume; ultra-silky, magnificently refined texture; amazing length. Drink: 2011 up to 2025. (2011)"

97 points Jane Anson (Decanter): "A vintage that needed careful handling during ageing because of the ripe concentrated fruits and relatively high alcohols. There is dark spice, almost primary aromatics, with some of the baby fat sliced off but still packed with eucalyptus menthol freshness. Saffron spices and baked earth starting to come through at 15 years old, along with cloves and chocolate. I love the texture as it opens up, wonderfully rich and supple. Harvest September 16th to October 1st. Still young but approaching its drinking window. Drinking Window: 2021-2042. (9/28/20)"

97 points James Suckling: "Beautifully focused notes of figs and ripe fruit on the nose, this is very perfumed. A lot of material in this wine, the center palate is incredible, lasting for minutes. This is full-bodied and super silky with fine tannins. A pinpointed ball of fruit, think lychee, and hints of chocolate on the finish. Leave this for six to eight years, should be about right in 2018. (4/9/12)"

96 points Wine & Spirits: "Angélus has both beautiful richness and shape in 2005, the sensual touch people hope to find in merlot that it so rarely and exquisitely delivers. The spice, the beeswax, the chocolate and black fruit are all there, but the focus is on the wine's subtle power, not any particular flavor. This had appeared black and superripe en primeur. Now there's a dark, earthy vibration in the tannin, a reverberation in the middle that touches senses beyond taste. This should live for decades. (Oct 2008)"

18/20 points The World of Fine Wine: "(14.5% abv; 55% Merlot, 45% Cabernet Franc). Dark, narrow-rimmed red; noticeably ripe to smell. Beautifully balanced, full-bodied, elegantly concentrated wine, with a very fine tanning and fresh acidity; long, fine, and even to taste, with a particularly refined flavor, intense and complex, minerally and aromatic, graceful and surprisingly delicate within the firm frame. Notable length, and a slight alcohol warmth on the finish. Will need plenty of time and will be very good. Lovely wine, a great Angélus. 2016-30+. (Issue 37; 2012)"