A vertical tasting (four different vintages of the same wine) of a well-known Cabernet dominated Bordeaux. Taste for yourself how different growing conditions, and time in the bottle, affect a wine's flavour and mouthfeel. Limited edition, 24 packs only.
Tasting notes
An intense, deep coloured wine full of ripe fruits with a refreshing touch of acidity and fine tannins, all imparting finesse and elegance – a wonderful wine. Excellent with roast and grilled meats, caramelized root vegetables, charcuterie and hard cheeses.
Why we recommend these wines
Every visit we make to Bordeaux includes a visit to Angludet and we buy their wines almost every year.
The wines
The vineyard has nurtured vines for more than 250 years – exceptional continuity for a vineyard. It is planted with 46 percent Cabernet Sauvignon which gives the wine its structure, 41 percent Merlot which gives its smoothness and 13 percent Petit Verdot which provides the sparkle. The relatively large proportion of Petit Verdot demands hard work but imparts depth and richness to the wine. The proportions of the blend vary by vintage depending on how the different varietals turned out.
2016 is a top rated vintage, the Wine Society rating it 10/10 with 2015 and 2020 rated 9/10 and 2014 a middling 7/10.
Below are extracts the Château’s notes about each vintage
2015 is a beautiful, deeply coloured wine. The initially discreet bouquet opens gradually and quietly to offer a complete array of aromas ranging from notes of cassis, blackberry and spices to violet with a very elegant hint of oak. The hallmarks of the terroir are definitely present on the palate in the elegant tannins, balanced flavours and fine texture. Now that it is well aged, its true depth and aromas have come to the fore to show the typical expression of its “terroir”.
2016 The deep colour of this wine is the portent of its intensity. The nose is tantalisingly fruity with cassis and blackberry aromas make this a taut wine on the whole, but pervaded by a certain softness. The palate is rounded and creamy, with velvety tannins, ripe fruit and a refreshing touch of acidity that creates a balanced whole, as well as delicate spices which evolve on the palate and lend unique character to this vintage. The finish is long and light as air. The hot late-August weather helped concentrate the grapes after the springtime rains, imparting finesse and rare elegance.
2020 was a difficult year - early budding, frost and rain at the wrong times. Yields were low, mainly due to losses during the March frost and the size of the bunches and berries remaining small. The early picking of the Merlots was a good thing and kept the freshness. The final result confirms a beautiful balance: rich, silky, fine, elegant and lively.. The difference to the other wines is the maturation - 70% barrels (30% new french oak which is usual) and 30% amphorae. Amphorae were introduced in scale for this vintage. They enable the micro-oxygenation of wine to be done gently and gradually; it is quite similar to barrel, but without imparting tannins and woody aromas. Maturation in amphorae contributes to preserving purity, clarity and aromatic delicacy.
Unfortunately tasting notes for 2014 are no longer available from the Chateau. Being more than 10 years old this wine demonstrates what aged Bordeaux tastes like when compared to the other vintages.
Although none of the vintages are bad, one wonders how one can distinguish between them from these descriptions. The only solution is to taste them for yourself; you don't have to be a wine expert only know what you like!
The wine estate
Château Angludet is one of the oldest properties in the Médoc, with a history which goes back to the twelfth century; it is named after Bertrand d'Angludet, a knight and lord of the Château. Surrounded as it is by Grand Cru Classé properties in the heart of the prestigious appellation of Margaux, Château Angludet would almost certainly have been included in the famous 1855 Classification, had the property not been broken up as part of an inheritance settlement. The Sichel family bought the estate in 1961 and it is now the responsibility of Benjamin Sichel. The Château is in the process of being certified Biodynamic
sichel.fr
Food and wine
With rich fruit and good tannins it is the ideal match for rich grilled or roast meats , hearty stews, roast vegetables and strong, hard cheeses.
Refer also to our food and wine pairing guide, click here.
Did you know?
There is a lot of debate about the order in which to do a vertical. Some (not only us) prefer young to old, others old to young and yet others base the order on the expected changes in the flavour profile. If the tasting is commercially driven it will inevitably end with what the organiser thinks is the best wine.