Saint-Émilion 1° Grand Cru Classé A 2020 - Parker 97

Winemaker and Vineyard: The Angelus vineyard is located at the heart of a natural amphitheater, dominated by the three churches of Saint-Emilion. Within this privileged site, where sounds amplify, one could hear the bells tolling the Angelus in the morning, at noon, and in the evening. They marked the working day in the vineyards and villages, with men and women pausing from their labors to reflect for a few moments. At Angélus, the vineyard is situated in a natural amphitheater on the southern slope and foothills of Saint-Emilion, which concentrates the warmth of the summer and increases early ripening. The soil is naturally drained due to the slope. The balanced distribution between limestone and clay, ranging from 8 to 20%, ensures regular water and mineral supply. The rootstocks are ideally suited to the terroir, and the grape varieties are distributed based on the soil type: Merlots on the slope (more clayey) and a significant proportion of Cabernet Francs (46% of the vine variety) on the clay-limestone soils of the foothills.

Tasting: The 2020 Angélus has turned out superbly and underlines this estate's continuing shift to a more elegant, integrated style that offers a purer expression of its terroir. A blend of 60% Merlot and 40% Cabernet Franc, it unwinds in the glass with aromas of cherries, wild berries, rose petals, mint and subtle hints of licorice, followed by a medium to full-bodied, beautifully layered and vibrant palate that's deep, precise, and penetrating, concluding with a mouthwateringly chalky finish. Some 120 hectoliters of Cabernet Franc, amounting to around 20% of the blend, were matured in foudre this year, which no doubt helps to account for the significantly reduced oak impact in the 2020. robertparker.com (Apr 06, 2023)

Service: Serve at room temperature (16-18°C) to accompany a Provençal-style Sisteron lamb rack.