Angelus 1996

Round, balanced and plummy without the structure and depth I expected to find in a 1996 Angelus – the wine is ready to enjoy now and quite a nice drink, but it lacks the depth and complexity one would expect from a top property like Angelus.

A massive, powerful Angelus, this wine exhibits a saturated black/ruby/purple color as well as an impressively-endowed nose of dried herbs, roasted meats, new saddle leather, plum liqueur, and cassis. In the mouth, olive notes make an impression. This sweet, full-bodied, exceptionally concentrated wine is atypically backward and ferociously tannic. It was revealing more sweetness and forwardness immediately prior to bottling, but I would now recommend 7-8 years of cellaring. Anticipated Maturity: 2007-2025.