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Château Angludet

Chateau d'Angludet - Copy

Address: 33460 Cantenac

Telephone: 05 57 88 71 41

E-mail: contact@chateau-angludet.fr

Website: www.chateau-angludet.fr

Château Angludet, [formerly d’Angludet], who’s name means ‘high angle of land’ is one of the oldest estates in Bordeaux. Parts of the chateau building date back to 1150. The Margaux property was bought by Peter Sichel in 1961 who identified its promising terroir – it neighbours Château Brane-Cantenac, Château du Tertre and  Château Giscours. The property then was in substantial neglect with just 7 hectares under vine and old plots had been given over to wheat and barley. Sichel oversaw the vineyard replanting and over the next three decades was responsible for restoring the reputation of the estate which now operates at the level of the classed growths. Peter Sichel’s son Benjamin took over the winemaking at the estate from his father in 1989. Under his reign Château Angludet has made some of its best ever wines. In the last decade he has made sumptuous wines in 2000, 2003, 2005 and 2009 making Angludet easily one of the best values in Bordeaux. True to the appellation and to each vintage, it produces Margaux which is harmonious with that elusive perfume and finesse but which is priced very reasonably.

Vineyard: 32 ha planted with 55% Cabernet Sauvignon, 35% Merlot and 10% Petit Verdot with an average age of 25 years and a density of 6666 vines per hectare. Soils generally gravel and small stones on the broad Margaux plateau, slightly elevated with a gentle slope north to south. Harvested by machine.

Winemaking/Elevage: Concrete tanks for fermentation and barrel aged for twelve months, the wine is bottled unfiltered but is egg white fined.

  • 2015 Deep colour; tight to rim; purple; summer fruits; quite loaded here; blackcurrants; fresh cherry; violet perfume; fresh entry on the palate; plenty of fruit and spicy notes; freshness too; very pure Margaux; nice sap on the finish. Appetizing style. Excellent Angludet. [40% Merlot, 50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Petit Verdot 13.6% alc]. Drink 2020-2030. 91-93+
  • 2014 Deep and saturated colour; tight to rim; full and loaded with fruit on the nose; extract; lots of matter; creamy blackcurrant fruit and black cream – attractive; good matter and depth; perfume on the palate; nicely balanced. Some grip and density; structure too. Good effort. Drink 2019-2030. 56% Cabernet Sauvignon, 33% Merlot, 11% Petit Verdot. 13.5% alc. Tasted 31 March, 2015 at UGC. 88-90+
  • 2013 Mid-depth; glossy look; vibrant edge; some fragrance and violet perfume’ blackcurrants; quite elegant styled but unforced; attractive soft entry; easy; some beauty here; elegant and nicely judged. Good effort. One to consider in 2013. [56% Cabernet Sauvignon, 32% Merlot, 12% Petit Verdot, 31 hl/ha, 12.8% alc]. Drink 2017-2025. Tasted UGCB April 2014. 86-88+
  • 2012 Mid depth; slightly reductive edge; blackcurrants and spice on aeration; palate has finesse; soft and easy with elegant tannin. Ready to drink. Drink 2015-2025. 87 UGC Oct ’14 [Earlier note] Mid depth; some purple at edge; creamy tones; nice freshness; elegance; Cabernet here; cleaner than before; ripe entry, harmony, elegance; polish and finesse; attractive elegant, mid-weight wine 89-91+ UGC Thursday April 11, 2013 [Earlier note] Mid depth; stalky blackcurrant notes, little ‘gout de chais’/reductive note but this should clear up; more freshness and perfume on the palate; reductive notes again, some spice. Slightly awkward sample. 40% Merlot, 48% Cabernet Sauvignon, 12% Petit Verdot. 87-89 UGC Tuesday April 9, 2012 Drink 2016-2025
  • 2011 Mid depth; spicy note, some blackcurrant tones; elegant palate; reasonably round and balanced; some grip and acid. Much more enthralling bottles of Angludet can be found in 2010 and 2009. Drink 2016-2021. 86 UGC Oct ’13 [Earlier note] Mid depth; primary fruit – cassis – but spiky and pure; this will mellow and develop; nice purity and a little honey at the very edge; ripe nevertheless; fruit again here some honeyed notes; mid-weight, acid and sappy palate. Angludet can be amazing value, but this sample is a bit disappointing. I think I trust it to come round but it’s not quite doing it for me at the moment. Primeurs Apr ‘2012. 86-87 Drink 2017-2022
  • 2010 Deep and dense; some savour, strong nose; pure blackcurrants and black cherry; espresso notes; settling nicely; freshness and life here alongside the purity of fruit. Looks very pure and fresh. 90/100 Nov ’13 [Earlier] Very deep and concentrated colour; quite strong and pure; depth to the nose with substance; cassis and blackcurrants; intense; full, good density and precise on the palate; fresh and will work well. Nicely judged wine. 89-91+/100 Tasted 5 April 2011. [Second tasting] Deep and dense; lots of ripe fruit on the nose; blackcurrants, violets; quite saturated and will be beautiful, very pure and unadorned with oak or extractive hijinks – pure. Violets on the palate too, lots of ripe, bright fruit, fresh. Good grip too and a fresh finish. Excellent wine 90-92/100 Tasted 7 April 2011 UGC Drink 2015-2030
  • 2009 Deep and healthy looking; blackcurrant and some plum; pure; nicely balanced palate with lots of depth and structure beneath. A fraction closed but nicely balanced and true to Margaux. A fine effort. Drink 2016-2029. 90 MW Institute Nov ’13 [Earlier note] Vibrant at edge; mid depth; legs; quite stalky blackcurrant nose; fresh and vibrant in style; some undergrowth and forest floor; nice palate; mid weight; little subdued at present with tannin on the finish but will be good. 90+/100 UGC Oct ’11 [Earlier – primeurs] Inky purple at edge; raw nose; fruit, plums, violets, some vegetal notes; still early days here; palate ripe however with mid palate richness; some concentration – sappy and ripe; bit raw on the nose but very good mid palate; some coffee on the finish. Good. Should settle. 88-90?/100 [Second tasting] Great depth to the nose; very ripe, fruit driven nose; some strong blackcurrants; freshness here to the nose;  palate some structure and freshness along with the ripe flavours;  not as polished or as round as the Brane Cantenac but more positive and fresher than Cantenac Brown. Excellent effort 90+/100 Tasted 30th March & 1st April 2010. Drink 2015-2030
  • 2008 They have just dropped the d’ here, so it’s just simply Angludet now so that should march them up the batting order at tastings at least. Quite dark; opaque at centre; some chocolate and mocha notes; palate quite sweet and sturdy; some violets here. Chewy and dense but maybe lacks a bit of life. Goodish. 86+/100 Drink now-2020. UGC Oct ’10.
  • 2007 Mid red; bit lightweight and angular; lacks flesh and quite dry and tannic and feels hollow. Acid and tannins stand out. May come together and put on weight but a disappointment. 82/100 Drink now – 2017. UGC Oct ’09
  • 2006 Mid depth, deeper at the core; some earth and tar on the nose but a bit subdued; some chocolate and mocha but all a bit secondary; mid weight palate; good intensity and extract – will need time here. Quite tannic finish. Feels like the 1986. 86-87/100 Drink 2015-2020. MW Institute Nov ’10.
  • 2005 Deep colour, earthy red at edge; brooding and deep nose of plums, damsons and real violet fragrance; underneath this is a savoury meaty edge, a cracking wine in prospect here; opened up in the glass with toasty nose, perfume and pain grille notes; palate sweet entry with concentration but also supple to a degree, very nicely done. Very round and fine tannins and excellent length mark this out as one of the best Angludet’s ever I’d imagine. 90-92/100 Drink now-2025+ Dec ’11
  • 2003 Mid-red, hangs in the glass ripe nose, typical of ’03, some earth, chocolate and graphite but also strong blackcurrants and violets – pure and fine – mid-weight palate. 88+/100  June ‘07 Drink now-2018
  • 1993 Earthy red; light; faint oak background; soft on palate; some concentration but lacks intensity. 82/100 Nov ‘95
  • 1986 Mid red; tinges of brown; tobacco; quite beefy and roast meat notes; also truffles and mushrooms and undergrowth on the palate; quite tannic; drying out a touch with coarseness to the tannins. 86/100 Oct ‘09 [Earlier note] Brick red; some cedar, but also beef, earth and tobacco. Attractive palate, soft and mellow; fully mature. Starting to tip into old age. 86-87/100 April’ 07
 

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