Le Carillon de L'Angelus 2012
Coco Chanel once said, “Fashion moves on, but style remains”. From the website of Angelus, they spend quite some length on their values of loyalty to tradition and the adoption of modern practices and techniques and the rejection of complacency are upheld for the benefit of the estate’s reputation. All First wine, Second Wine(Le Carillon) and third wine(Number 3) are picked on unclassified plots with clayey limestone and clayey sandy limestone soils. The vines for Le Carilllon and Number 3 are cared for in exactly the same way as those used to make the main wine. The same attention is paid to detail and selection during the harvest and winemaking as for the main wine. Nothing seems to have been mentioned on the use of barrels, or indeed they are not quitre necessary for consumers.
A very flexible approached is adopted for each wine each vintage to suit the outcome. With Merlot (51%), Cabernet Franc (47%), Cabernet Sauvignon (2%, Le Carillon d’Angélus 2012 gives a very dense ruby purple. Primary fruit based(fresh dark cherries and plums, as well as red cherries), it is soft and supple, with deep fruity taste asw well. Tight tannined, this wine is nicely textured mouthfeel. Oak tones carried well-savour enough but not charred. Intense and balanced; not too complexed; adequate length for the class.
If you may want something serious yet fruity with adequate intensity and balance, Le Carillon de Angelus 2012 is the one. Compared to contemporary vintages 2011 and 2013, this 2012 vintage scored best (WE92, Tim Atkins 92, and JS91) and taste most intense. Afterall, the elder brother Chateau Angelus is now promoted Grand Cru Classe Division A and is selling hefty $2600 to $3300 for the newer vintage, and this vintage 2012 got a whopping 95RP. Paired to taste with Chateau Angelus 2012, this small brother does have its own identity and style.
