1998 Chateau Angelus, Saint-Emilion, Bottle (750ml)

Wine Advocate | 98 Points

"The 1998 Angélus, a blend of 40% Cabernet Franc and 60% Merlot, is deep garnet colored with a touch of brick. The nose is completely...WOW! It has an incredible array of smoked meats, incense, cigar box and dusty earth notions over a core of baked cherries, dried mulberries, preserved plums and dried roses with wafts of lavender, menthol and new leather. The palate is medium to full-bodied, rich, intense and packed with black fruit preserves accented by complex savory and earth-inspired flavors, supported by wonderful freshness, textured by plush tannins and finishing with fantastic tension. This still has loads of life—25+ more years!"

The 1998 vintage was a watershed year on the Right Bank — warm, dry harvest conditions brought perfectly ripe Merlot and Cabernet Franc, and Château Angélus delivered one of the defining wines of the era.

Angélus sits on the south-facing slopes just outside the medieval village of Saint-Émilion, a position that captures more sunlight and warmth than the surrounding vineyards. This gives the wine its signature style: generous fruit, richness, and depth, balanced by the lift and aromatics of old-vine Cabernet Franc.

By the late 1990s, the estate was at full stride — lower yields, meticulous berry selection, and precision in the cellar. The result in 1998 is power wrapped in polish: intense fruit concentration matched by sophistication and finesse.

Now, with more than 25 years of evolution, the wine has settled into its ideal expression — silky, layered, and beautifully resolved. No decant necessary, just pop and pour!