Angelus 2001

A real sleeper of the vintage, and somewhat underrated and under the radar after the greatness of 2000, the 2001 Angelus is on a faster evolutionary track than the 2000, but it is a plush, sexy, succulent style of Angelus with a dense plum/purple color, loads of chocolate, blueberry and blackberry fruit, telltale floral scents in the intense fragrance, and a lush, voluptuously textured and opulent mouthfeel. This wine seems to have entered its plateau of maturity, where it should stay for at least another 10-15 years. It is a major sleeper of the vintage.

Dark crimson. A bit muddy on the nose and very sweet and brutal on the palate. Masses of new oak! Pretty dry on the finish. A bit edgy and already quite evolved. Tastes initially like thick, sweet ink and then is lifted by some freshness on the finish. Not overdone. Jancis Robinson

A brilliant performance by Hubert de Bouard, the 2001 Angelus (6,250 cases) is a more restrained and delineated version of the 2000. It has shed much of its tannin, and seems far more evolved and open-knit than I thought prior to bottling. Its deep purple color is followed by a rich nose of creosote, charcoal, blackberries, plums, cassis, and espresso roast. Elegant, medium-bodied, and rich, with a measured ripeness and moderate structure in the pure, nicely proportioned finish, it is less massive than either the 2000 or 2003, yet is also beautifully put together.