Château Le Pape Score 93–94 Medium-deep crimson. Intense blackcurrant, raspberry aromas with wax polish/ vanilla/roasted chestnut notes. Dark and red berry fruits, some praline notes and slinky chalky tannins. Very good mid-palate density and mineral finish. 80% merlot, 20% cabernet sauvignon. Saint-Émilion Ch Angelus, Ch Ausone, Ch Cheval Blanc, Ch Figeac, Ch Belair Monange and Ch Trottevieille all show outstanding potential. Their pure fruit definition, chalky structures and precision are impressive. Ch Tertre Roteboeuf is idiosyncratic and beautiful. Ch Canon, Ch La Dominique, Ch Troplong Lalande and Ch Pavie Macquin are very classical in style. Ch Pavie continues to run its own race. The structure is extremely assertive, but over time the tannins may settle down. Château Figeac Score 97–98+ Deep colour. Beautiful wax polish, black plum, black cherry herb dried rose aromas. Sweet fruited blackberry pastille, black plum fruits, wax polish/ inky complexity, superb mid-palate richness and fine plentiful chalky textures. Finishes cedar firm with butterscotch espresso notes. Wonderful wine highlighting the fidelity of vineyard site and the strength of Figeac’s encepagement (varietal plantings) in such a year. This will develop into something special. 29% merlot, 31% cabernet franc, 40% cabernet sauvignon. Château Ausone Score 97–98 Medium-deep crimson. Complex dark plum, dark chocolate, espresso aromas with herb garden notes. Richly flavoured dark plum, praline roasted chestnut toasty flavours, fine plentiful chalky tannins. Firm and minerally at the finish. Very good mid-palate density and richness. Lovely wine with superb balance and potential longevity. 65% cabernet franc, 35% merlot. Vinification in oak vats, followed by 20 months maturation in French oak. Château Angelus Score 96–97 Medium-deep crimson. Intense inky elderberry graphite, cedar, roasted chestnut aromas with hint violet notes. Lovely pure blackberry, mulberry fruits, graphite, al dente textures, attractive mid-palate generosity and underlying roasted chestnut notes. Finishes chalky firm with persistent dark fruits. A very well structured wine with freshness and vigour. 60% cabernet franc, 40% merlot. A cabernet franc dominant wine for the first time in the history of Angelus, highlighting the challenge of the vintage and the fidelity of the grape variety in 2021. Vinification in oak and stainless steel (merlot) and concrete (cabernet franc). 22 months in new French oak.
78 The Wine Journal – 2023
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