Château Angélus Saint-Émilion Premier Grand Cru Classé 2016 is a legendary Bordeaux vintage that perfectly captures the estate’s signature power, elegance, and aromatic intensity. Awarded 98 points by The Wine Advocate and James Suckling, this exceptional wine delivers a stunning bouquet of blackberry, black cherry, plum, violet, rose petals, chocolate mint, pencil shavings, and subtle spice. A classic blend of 60% Merlot and 40% Cabernet Franc, it offers remarkable depth and richness while maintaining impressive freshness and energy. The palate is beautifully balanced with velvety tannins, vibrant fruit, and an exceptionally long, polished finish. A truly collectible Saint-Émilion with outstanding ageing potential through 2065 and beyond.

The Wine Advocate | RP 98+
Published: Oct 22, 2020
Drink: 2024-2065 

Sporting a deep garnet-purple color, the 2016 Angélus erupts from the glass with powerful notes of blackberry pie, ripe black cherries and juicy black plums with an undercurrent of star anise, rose petals, chocolate mint, pencil shavings and woodsmoke plus a waft of allspice. The palate is pure decadence. Medium to full-bodied, rich and generously fruited, this wine is by no means heavy—it positively glimmers with freshness and vivacity, lending an ethereal nature to all that richness and power, beautifully framed by velvety tannins and finishing with epic length. The generosity, layers and plushness make for an absolutely DELICIOUS drink right now, but I'd suggest waiting 3-5 more years for the fireworks to really begin.

James Suckling | JS 98
Published: Jan 22, 2026

Tar, cherry, dried flower and subtle earth aromas. Still youthful, with some primary dark fruit. Medium- to full-bodied, it shows vibrancy and a velvety profile that carries the wine to a deep, chiseled finish. Drink now or hold. 10 Years On retrospective.

Decanter | D 97
Published: Mar 22, 2026
Drink: 2026-2070

Shows an incredibly lifted, expressive nose, brimming with violets and an intoxicating, beautifully pure perfume. The palate follows with poise and clarity, supported by a lovely framework of fine, well-knit tannins. There’s real balance here, the fruit vibrant yet controlled, leading into a grippy, persistent finish that feels both polished and energetic. An excellent, harmonious wine with notable finesse and aromatic allure.
Closure: Cork
Alcohol: 14.50%
Body: Full
Oak: Oaked
Grapes: 40% Cabernet Franc 60% Merlot

Jancis Robinson | JR 18.5
Published: Feb 12, 2026
Drink: 2025-2045

Tasted blind. Dark crimson. Mellow and well melded. Pretty glamorous and dramatic. No rough edges though there is tannin lurking underneath for future development. Well balanced and long. Jancis Robinson

Angelus.com

In the last thirty years, Hubert de Boüard de Laforest has constantly challenged practices and techniques for the benefit of his land and the unique characteristics of the wines grown on it, enabling Château Angelus to be recognised as one of the foremost properties in its appellation area. This recognition has been documented in one classification after another, the last of which awarded Château Angelus the status of Premier Grand Cru Classé "A".

- 2016 -
"LE RAYONNANT"
3 months of summer without water: never before seen in the living memory of winegrowers! This surprising weather, and these incredible conditions, promise us a great, unpredictable and unexpected vintage. Until 20 June, the weather did not spare us, inflicting very heavy rainfall of about 750 mm, which corresponds to the total annual rainfall for a dry year in Bordeaux... In spite of these conditions, flowering went well. Fine weather set in from the last week of June and, quite remarkably, remained right up to the harvest. We had a sunny but rather cool July, with cold nights. By the end of July, the sea temperature was much lower than usual for this period. And not a drop of rain. August saw temperatures climb, with heatwaves of over 35 degrees some days. Nevertheless, the day / night temperature ratio was 2 to 1 throughout the month, highly favourable for aromatic expression in our grapes and maintaining freshness in the fruit. To this can be added the almost complete absence of rain, only 5 to 8 mm, or the strict minimum to allow the vine to rehydrate. And that is why the very young vines began to suffer. The oldest vines, especially on clay and/or limestone soils, resisted magnificently (the limestone and clay work like sponges, absorbing water when it rains and redistributing it during drought). "In more than 35 years of observing the vineyard, I have always been accustomed to storms on 14 July and 15 August. This year, not a bit! The summer continued through September, and with it the heat: daily temperatures of 28, 30 degrees. A severe storm was forecast for mid-September. We were all quaking in our boots. But the menacing white and grey clouds finally turned into beneficial rain, first 19 then 4 mm. This rain fallen from the heavens gave back energy, strength and breath to our vineyard. Then the good weather quickly returned. The tannins are ripening slowly and picking begins at the start of October for the grands vins. The cool nights have preserved the aromas and the acidity. The weather forecast for the coming two weeks lets us look forward to a calm harvest, picking as we wish, and allowing us to hope for and expect another great vintage at Angelus! A radiant vintage in the image of this three-month summer that fixed its destiny and shaped its identity."

Harvest: 4th to 21 October
Blend: 60 % Merlot, 40 % Cabernet Franc