2003 Angelus
By Chateau Angelus
2003 Angelus from Chateau Angelus, Saint-Emilion, Bordeaux
In the annals of Bordeaux's rich winemaking history, the 2003 Angelus from Chateau Angelus is a remarkable chapter that continues to enthrall connoisseurs and investors alike. The year 2003 was marked by climatic extremes that imprinted upon the wine a unique character that distinguishes it sharply from other vintages. Affectionately regarded within the coterie of fine wines, the assertive individuality of the 2003 offering is an ode to the resilience and adaptability of Chateau Angelus' terroir.
A Vintage Carved by Heat
The 2003 vintage in Bordeaux is notorious for its sweltering summer, with incessant heat waves pushing vines to their limits. Yet, it was from this crucible of heat that the 2003 Angelus emerged with a surprising elegance. With deft touch and intimate knowledge of their vineyards, the winemaking team at Chateau Angelus coaxed an enthralling balance between power and finesse in their 2003 grand vin.
This wine reveals a generous bouquet that merges ripe blackberry compote with hints of roasted coffee beans—a decadent array uniting to seduce and captivate the palate. The underpinning structure, with its robust tannins rendered supple by two decades in slumber, marries intensity with harmony in a way few other vintages manage. Cellaring has unveiled layers of complexity where dark fruit notes intertwine with whispers of tobacco and graphite.
Investment with Poise
For investors seeking poised maturity, the 2003 Angelus represents not merely a liquid asset but an artifact of cultural heritage bearing witness to an extraordinary vintage in Bordeaux. While this growing season was controversial for its extreme weather, Chateau Angelus triumphed by presenting a wine that personifies both their craft's rigour and nature's unpredictability. The robust market interest this vintage fuels among collectors is due as much to its background story as it is to its sensory delights.
Engaging with the 2003 Angelus from Chateau Angelus is like studying a work of art; one appreciates not only the immediate aesthetic but also recognizes the underlying narrative—a narrative embodied in every resplendent sip. This vintage stands as a testament to vineyard mastery that adeptly surmounted meteorological challenges to produce a wine showcasing astonishing depth—a regal addition to any sophisticated portfolio.
Market price (USD)
$4,230.00
12x75cl
Highest score
98
POP score
192.22
Scores and tasting notes
I had this wine from my cellar, as well as at a tasting in Zurich in February of 2015. It is one of the handful of 2003s I bought from the Right Bank of Bordeaux in this vintage. Angelus really nailed the vintage, and has produced a fully mature wine that’s truly strutting its stuff. Dense, bluish/purple, it offers gorgeous notes of espresso roast, blackberry and blueberry liqueur, acacia flowers and a touch of chocolate. It is full-bodied, opulent and seems close to full maturity, as it is evolving quickly. The wine is full-bodied, rich and should be drunk over the next decade.
Robert Parker Jr - The Wine Advocate, 27 August 2015
A compelling nose of curry and dark fruits, with rose petal and tobacco undertones. Frankly, a wild nose. Full-bodied and racy, this has fine tannins and a round texture. Fresh herbs, berries, and currants on the palate open up to a fresh finish. Three more years will do this wine good. Pull the cork in 2013.
James Suckling - jamessuckling.com, May 1st 2012
Kudos to proprietor Hubert Bouard, who has been making brilliant wines at this estate since the mid- to late-1980s. A blend of 58% Cabernet Franc and 42% Merlot, the beautiful 2003 (14% alcohol; 6,500 cases produced) is somewhat tightly knit, but it reveals a perfumed nose of rose petals, blackberries, menthol, and cedar. This broad, sweet 2003's supple attack is followed by a tannic mid-section. The wine does not appear to be as dense or structured as the 2004. Given the high percentage of Cabernet Franc, it is likely to put on considerable weight in the bottle. This beauty is slightly different not only because of the torrid vintage conditions, but also because it incorporates the highest percentage of Cabernet Franc ever utilized at Angelus. Anticipated maturity: 2008-2023.
Robert Parker Jr - Wine Advocate #164 April 2006
Tasted at Farr Vintners’ vertical from ex-chateau magnum. Is this Saint Emilion running out of steam. Certainly age does not seem to be meliorating this wine. It has a slight smudged, alcoholic bouquet with damson, macerated dark cherries, plum and raisin, quite typical for the vintage. The palate is medium-bodied with better acidity than I expected, and certainly more successful than the aromatics. But it seems to lacks some complexity towards the finish, the flavours falling off a cliff and disappearing. Slowly succumbing to the growing season? Tasted October 2011.
Neal Martin - Wine Journal Mar 2012