Jeb Dunnuck (100)

I loved the 2018 Château Angélus from barrel last year and it blew me away from bottle, epitomizing the new, fresher, more elegant style of the estate while still bringing classic Angélus richness and power. The 2018 is a blend of 65% Merlot and 35% Cabernet Franc that was brought up in new oak, with a portion of the Cabernet Franc in foudre. A vivid purple color is followed by a vibrant bouquet of blackberries, crème de cassis, crushed violets, spring flowers, and cedar pencil. Beautifully concentrated, full-bodied, and flawlessly balanced on the palate, it has gorgeous tannins, remarkable purity of fruit, and awesome length. I followed this bottle for multiple days and it only improved, picking up additional depth and richness, while never showing a hint of oxidation. Pure perfection, it's going to benefit from 7-8 years of bottle age and keep for 3-4 decades. This is a sensational, magical wine from this talented team, led by winemaker Emmanuelle d'Aligny-Fulchi. Comparing this to the more opulent 2005 and 2009 over the coming decades will be an incredible experience.

Jeb Dunnuck (100)

I loved the 2018 Château Angélus from barrel last year and it blew me away from bottle, epitomizing the new, fresher, more elegant style of the estate while still bringing classic Angélus richness and power. The 2018 is a blend of 65% Merlot and 35% Cabernet Franc that was brought up in new oak, with a portion of the Cabernet Franc in foudre. A vivid purple color is followed by a vibrant bouquet of blackberries, crème de cassis, crushed violets, spring flowers, and cedar pencil. Beautifully concentrated, full-bodied, and flawlessly balanced on the palate, it has gorgeous tannins, remarkable purity of fruit, and awesome length. I followed this bottle for multiple days and it only improved, picking up additional depth and richness, while never showing a hint of oxidation. Pure perfection, it's going to benefit from 7-8 years of bottle age and keep for 3-4 decades. This is a sensational, magical wine from this talented team, led by winemaker Emmanuelle d'Aligny-Fulchi. Comparing this to the more opulent 2005 and 2009 over the coming decades will be an incredible experience.

James Suckling (98)

Redcurrants, sweet tobacco and flowers with some sandalwood. Very perfumed and floral. So pure. Full-bodied, yet so refined and layered, with a soft, compact palate and a crushed-velvet mouth-feel. Poised fruit at the end, together with fresh, rare wood and a light chocolate undertone to the aftertaste. This is open, yet there’s so much in reserve. 60% merlot and 40% cabernet franc. Leave it in the cellar for at least eight years. Try after 2029.

James Suckling (98)

Redcurrants, sweet tobacco and flowers with some sandalwood. Very perfumed and floral. So pure. Full-bodied, yet so refined and layered, with a soft, compact palate and a crushed-velvet mouth-feel. Poised fruit at the end, together with fresh, rare wood and a light chocolate undertone to the aftertaste. This is open, yet there’s so much in reserve. 60% merlot and 40% cabernet franc. Leave it in the cellar for at least eight years. Try after 2029.

James Suckling (98)

Redcurrants, sweet tobacco and flowers with some sandalwood. Very perfumed and floral. So pure. Full-bodied, yet so refined and layered, with a soft, compact palate and a crushed-velvet mouth-feel. Poised fruit at the end, together with fresh, rare wood and a light chocolate undertone to the aftertaste. This is open, yet there’s so much in reserve. 60% merlot and 40% cabernet franc. Leave it in the cellar for at least eight years. Try after 2029.

James Suckling (98)

Redcurrants, sweet tobacco and flowers with some sandalwood. Very perfumed and floral. So pure. Full-bodied, yet so refined and layered, with a soft, compact palate and a crushed-velvet mouth-feel. Poised fruit at the end, together with fresh, rare wood and a light chocolate undertone to the aftertaste. This is open, yet there’s so much in reserve. 60% merlot and 40% cabernet franc. Leave it in the cellar for at least eight years. Try after 2029.

James Suckling (98-99)

This is wonderfully refined and balanced with such pretty depth. Full-bodied and so polished and pure. Subtle at first, then it takes off and keeps coming. Sophisticated. 60% merlot and 40% cabernet franc.

James Suckling (98-99)

This is wonderfully refined and balanced with such pretty depth. Full-bodied and so polished and pure. Subtle at first, then it takes off and keeps coming. Sophisticated. 60% merlot and 40% cabernet franc.

James Suckling (95-96)

Beautiful depth here, with currants and blackberries, as well as hints of fresh herbs and wet earth. Medium-to full-bodied, layered and long, with depth and beauty. Savory. Impressive for the vintage. Persistent.

James Suckling (95-96)

Beautiful depth here, with currants and blackberries, as well as hints of fresh herbs and wet earth. Medium-to full-bodied, layered and long, with depth and beauty. Savory. Impressive for the vintage. Persistent.

The Wine Independent (98-100)

The 2022 Château Angélus is made up of 60% Merlot and 40% Cabernet Franc with a pH of 3.65. Deep garnet-purple colored, it prances out of the glass with flamboyant notes of red currant jelly, wild blueberries, cassis, and candied violets, followed by suggestions of jasmine tea, star anise, and crushed rocks. The full-bodied palate is impactful from first sip, yet slowly expands in the mouth, ultimately over-delivering on the nose's promise with layer upon layer of perfumed black and red fruits, supported by super fine-grained, silt-like tannins, finishing long and achingly shimmery.

James Suckling (97-98)

The transparency of fruit and the finesse is really something here. There’s depth and beauty to the pristine, fresh fruit. Full-bodied and muscular with wonderful tannins that provide tension and form. Subtle and weightless, this is a thought-provoking young wine. 60% merlot and 40% cabernet franc.

Crafted with adroit precision, Armens 2014 is a remarkable fine wine expressing the pure artistry and integrity of its distinguished producer. This exquisite vintage originates from a highly esteemed vineyard in Burgundy, France's regal wine region. Fermented with meticulously chosen grapes, and aged in oak barrels to deliver extraordinary depth and velvety texture.

The producer, Armens, is revered for its relentless pursuit of quality and innovation, leading to wines that are the epitome of authenticity. With an exceptional balance of ripened fruit flavours, coupled with hints of spices and plummy notes, Armens 2014 provides a marvellous, lingering finish that enlivens the palate. Delicate yet impactful, it is a quintessential representation of pure French winemaking prowess.

Armens 2014 is more than a fine wine, it's an experience you'll treasure. An unparalleled elixir that encapsulates the very essence of Burgundy in an irresistible symphony of flavours. Immerse yourself in the splendour that is Armens 2014.

Vinous - Stephen Tanzer (88-90)

Medium ruby. Cool aromas of blackberry, violet, licorice and mocha. Light and lively in the mouth, with good density and sound framing acidity. Not hugely ripe but rather stylish and bright. Tannins spread out on the persistent, fresh finish. The crop level in these vines, located on what director Nicolas Thienpont describes as soft calcaire between Beausejour-Becot and Angelus, was just 30 hectoliters per hectare.

James Suckling (92)

Lots of coffee and chocolate, with plum and dried cherries. Full-bodied with round yet fine tannins, and a fruity finish. Starting to come around, but will be better after 2013. 14+23+22+33. $470HK

Wine Advocate (94)

The first bottle of 2005 Bellevue that I tasted had a maderized, oxidized nose that was off-putting. This note is from a second bottle. This second bottle showed absolutely no trace of oxidation, but did offer plenty of crushed, chalky minerality, notes of plum, blueberry, black raspberry and cherry fruit, a dense purple color, a full-bodied mouthfeel, and fabulous structure, purity and length. It should drink well for at least another 20+ years.

Wine Advocate (89)

This sensational sleeper of the vintage is far better than the more famous "Bellevue" from St.-Emilion that proved so disappointing in 2006. This blend of 50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot, and a whopping 20% Petit Verdot is a lovely, round, pure, deep ruby/purple-colored effort offering sweet scents of berry fruit, licorice, charcoal, and lead pencil shavings. Medium to full-bodied, textured, broad, and lush, it could be thought of as a mini-La Lagune. Enjoy it over the next 5-6 years. Good value.

Brimming with distinction, Candale 1983, released by the revered Château de Candale, is a quintessential expression of the esteemed Saint-Émilion terroir. Renowned for its meticulous crafting process, the estate's vineyards are deeply rooted in limestone clay soils, gifting the Candale 1983's Merlot dominant blend with unparalleled sophistication. The 1983 vintage, a standout year in Bordeaux, is imbued with lush plum and ripe berry notes harmoniously woven with subtle spices and velvety tannins, culminating in a stylish, sustained finish.

The grapes for Candale 1983 experienced a traditional vinification process in concrete vats, enhancing their natural characters. Post-fermentation, the wine aged in fine-grained, French oak barrels, adding layers of tantalising complexity. Château de Candale, with centuries of winemaking prowess, has respectfully preserved tradition while embracing innovation, producing the Candale 1983 that connoisseurs the world over rightly applaud.

A welcome addition to any connoisseur's collection, the Daugay 2019 is a testament to the expertise of its vignerons in Saint-Emilion, Bordeaux. This red Bordeaux blend, a harmonious concoction of Merlot and Cabernet Franc, is born from vines that are 50 years old on average. The resulting maturity in the grapes metamorphoses into an opulent wine with refined tannins.

The Daugay 2019 is adeptly crafted thanks to the fine art of traditional fermentation and consistent vinification in French oak barrels. Its enduring ageing process confers complexities of flavours, from fresh red fruits to subtle oaky notes, often garnished with a touch of spices and an earthy undertone.

The Château Daugay, run by the esteemed de Boüard family, has been producing fine wines since the 19th-century. Their mastery in wine production, coupled with the region's propitious terroir, is eloquently expressed through the balanced and velvety Daugay 2019. An offering not to be overlooked by any avid wine aficionado.

Vinous - Antonio Galloni (90)

The 2020 La Commanderie is packed with black fruit, cloves, licorice, menthol and chocolate. Although not especially complex, the 2020 is succulent and easy to like. It will drink well right out of the gate.

Vinous - Antonio Galloni (92)

The 2019 Le Merle de Péby Faugères is laced with sumptuous black cherry fruit, chocolate, new leather, spice and graphite. This racy second wine offers tons of immediacy and overall appeal. Attractive, savory top notes complement the Merlot fruit nicely.

Vinous - Antonio Galloni (92)

The 2019 Le Merle de Péby Faugères is laced with sumptuous black cherry fruit, chocolate, new leather, spice and graphite. This racy second wine offers tons of immediacy and overall appeal. Attractive, savory top notes complement the Merlot fruit nicely.

Wine Spectator (90)

Extremely well polished and fresh with plummy, toasted oak character. Medium-bodied with medium silky tannins and a long delicate finish. Drinkable now.--The Bordeaux 50. -JS

Wine Advocate (97)

The 1998 Pavie is deep garnet-brick in color. So much fruit comes charging out of the gate here: profound crème de cassis, baked blackberries and blackberry preserves with notions of beef dripping, crushed rocks, unsmoked cigar, sandalwood and dried lavender. Big, rich and beautifully impactful, it is completely packed with taut, muscular black and blue fruit preserves, maintaining nice firm grainy tannins with layer after layer of exotic spices, meat and earth notions, finishing epically long and minerally. Should easily continue to cellar for 25+ years.

Vinous - Stephen Tanzer (92-94)

Full ruby. Blackberry, kirsch, espresso and menthol aromas exude a compelling sappy sweetness; leesy suggestions of musky espresso and roasted meat give the nose a Burgundian aspect. Superripe, thick and suave; this is consistent from start to finish in a way that just a couple '99s from the Medoc can match. Really expands in the mouth. Finishes with big but noble tannins (Perse described the polyphenol levels as "huge") that reach the entire palate. Comes across as much less oaky today than the '98, or is it simply that here the wood is more successfully integrated? Compelling sweetness of fruit without any loss of soil character. Along with Le Pin and Ausone, my early favorite for best wine of the right bank in '99.

Vinous - Stephen Tanzer (92-94)

Full ruby. Blackberry, kirsch, espresso and menthol aromas exude a compelling sappy sweetness; leesy suggestions of musky espresso and roasted meat give the nose a Burgundian aspect. Superripe, thick and suave; this is consistent from start to finish in a way that just a couple '99s from the Medoc can match. Really expands in the mouth. Finishes with big but noble tannins (Perse described the polyphenol levels as "huge") that reach the entire palate. Comes across as much less oaky today than the '98, or is it simply that here the wood is more successfully integrated? Compelling sweetness of fruit without any loss of soil character. Along with Le Pin and Ausone, my early favorite for best wine of the right bank in '99.