Bordeaux 2018: Château Angélus et al
Château Angélus looks very strong in 2018. There is the usual depth and power but the bold tannins suggest a long life. The wine is now made by Hubert de Boüard’s daughter Stephanie. The property is on conversion toward organic growing so the vagaries of the 2018 vintage [the wet start with its threat of mildew] were a challenge. Overall, however, volumes are not down and the considerable [yet ripe] tannin profiles are a testament to the extraordinary sunny and hot weather that defined the second half of the growing season in 2018. Other wines in the de Boüard stable also look impressive in 2018. I’m a great fan of Chateau Bellevue and Chateau Daugay and both are excellent in this vintage. Chateau Roc de Boisseaux also is very good.
There is excitement to be had too in Montagne St Emilion and Lalande de Pomerol. For me the 2018 produced by Coralie de Boüard at Château Clos de Boüard is the best yet. I’ve been a fan of Chateau La Fleur de Boüard [pictured left] in Lalande de Pomerol for some time. Beautiful wines have again been made here in 2018. Personally, I’d opt for the regular bottling over the dramatic Le Plus, regardless of the scores. I find the balance and life of the former such a joy, despite undoubted power of the latter.
The following wines were tasted at Château Angélus earlier in the year during the primeurs period in April.
St Emilion
Château Angélus, St Emilion Grand Cru Classé, Group ‘A’, 2018
Wonderfully deep and enticing looking; legs; purple at edge; tight to meniscus; cool purity; little reticent at first; black cherry; plum; very pure; seam of lovely fruit; this is very attractive indeed; cool palate; plum, cassis; very nicely layered; supple fruit but oceans of it here on the palate; the oak feels totally soaked up on the palate [a little more evident on the aromatics]. Great stuff! Up there almost with the ‘09 and ‘10. Bold tannins on the finish and some wood but evidently plenty of matter here. Will work extremely well. [65% Merlot, 35% Cabernet Franc]. Tasted April ’18. Drink 2025-2045. 97-98+
Carillon de Angélus, St Emilion Grand Cru, 2018
Deep red; earthy red purple at edge; ripe black fruits; perfume lift from the interwoven oak; black cherry; kirsch; really a voluptuous Carillon; a beauty; pure entry; like this; pure plum; blackcurrant; cassis and some black cherry; very polished in the mouth and refined; lovely texture to the tannins. Works really well. Best young Carillon I can remember tasting. Good finish. Fine tannins. [85% Merlot, 15% Cabernet Franc]. Tasted April ’18. Drink 2023-2035. 94-95
No 3 de Angélus, St Emilion Grand Cru, 2018
Deep and saturated look; legs; stalky blackcurrant and black cherry notes; quite deep; cool perfumed fruit; lovely purity on the palate; nice texture and polish; really caressing and elegant. This works well. Perhaps a fraction compact on the finish. Second label of Carillon. [70% Merlot, 15% Cabernet Franc, 15% Cabernet Sauvignon]. Tasted April ’18. Drink 2022-2028. 90-92+
Château Bellevue, St Emilion Grand Cru Classé, 2018
Polished and glossy black red; legs; purple at edge; ripe fruit; unctuously styled; strawberry, some jam; some black chocolate hints; lush; bit chewy on the entry; some extraction here; meaty; lots of fruit but pushed at this stage; this will settle as the tannins are supple if evident. Lots of matter. Little chewy on the finish at present. First year organic. 100% Merlot. Tasted April ’18. Drink 2023-2035. 92-94+
Château Daugay, St Emilion Grand Cru, 2018
Deep and saturated; earthy red purple at rim; lovely black cherry perfume; sings from the glass; seductive; some meaty black fruits beneath; sweet ripe entry; lovely purity continues on the palate; really nice flesh tones; has delicacy; seductive; open; quite gorgeous vintage here evidently. Lovely decadent stuff. [63% Merlot, 32% Cabernet Franc, 5% Cabernet Sauvignon]. Tasted April ’18. Drink 2022-2032. 92-94+
Château Roc de Boisseau, St Emilion Grand Cru, 2018
Deep and saturated; earthy purple at edge; legs; black tar; liqourice; some meat; fuller; oak influenced; meatier overall style; ball of fruit; ripe; thick; rich palate; little oak evident; some chew and wood tannin needs to meld but evidently plenty of fruit to cover the bones. [80% Merlot, 20% Cabernet Franc]. Tasted April ’18. Drink 2022-2030. 90–92
Montagne St EmilionDame de Boüard, Montagne St Emilion, 2018
Deep and saturated colours; ripe black cherry and bubblegum; quite enjoyable; little savoury note; sweet entry; soft fruit; easy style with the vintage characteristics; nicely drinkable. Soft finish. [60% Merlot, 30% Cabernet Franc, 10% Cabernet Sauvignon]. Tasted April, 2018. Drink 2022-2026. 88-90
Château Clos de Boüard, Montagne St Emilion, 2018
Deep and saturated; purple at the edge; tight to the meniscus; clean and pure; lovely plummy aromatics; really attractive and polished; clean entry; plummy fruit with some cherry; works really well; polished wine; structured with plenty of flesh and chew. [85% Merlot, 10% Cabernet Franc, 5% Cabernet Sauvignon]. Tasted April ’18. Drink 2022-2032. 90-91
Lalande de Pomerol
Le Lion de Fleur de Boüard, Lalande de Pomerol, 2018
Dark; earthy red at edge – not so purple; stalky black cherry and some spice; ripe and easy; fruit driven aromatics; soft entry; nice bouncy fruit; easy and full; has bounce and zap. Works. Tasted April ’18. Drink 2022-2025. 87-89
Château Le Fleur de Boüard, Lalande de Pomerol, 2018
Deep and saturated; nicely colorued; fresh rim – purple; like the bright black cherry fruit and lift; really love the regular bottling; has verve and life; cool entry; black cherry ripe and zesty; has depth; works really well. Nice chew. Some chocolate on the finish. Works well. [85% Merlot, 12% Cabernet Franc, 3% Cabernet Sauvignon]. Tasted April ’18. Drink 2023-2033. 91-92+
Le Plus de La Fleur de Boüard, Lalande de Pomerol, 2018
Darker still; colour tight to the edge; very concentrated and sublimated in style; very ripe and rich; super concentrated cuvee; deep; lashings of black cherry; black fruit jam and dark chocolate; some kirsch again; full and rich; plenty of extract; lots of matter and extract; a whopper! If you like the style…wow..chewy..finish. Plenty to say! [100% Merlot]. Tasted April ’18. Drink 2025-2035. 93-94
Tags: Bdx18, Bordeaux, Carillon de Angélus, Chateau Angélus, Chateau Bellevue, Château Clos de Boüard, Chateau Daugay, Château Le Fleur de Boüard, Château Roc de Boisseau, Dame de Boüard, Lalande de Pomerol, Le Lion de Fleur de Boüard, Le Plus de La Fleur de Boüard, Montagne St Emilion, No 3 de Angélus, St Emilion, St Emilion Grand Cru, St Emilion Grand Cru Classé, St Emilion Grand Cru Classé 'A'