CHÂTEAU D’ANGLUDET 2010
Deep purple with a tight pinkish rim, the 2010 vintage is a rare gem, presenting as a more extensive wine for the class with a tremendous mid-palate impression. This is an excellent vintage, so 2010 is ripe and sweet with fine structure and length. The aroma is perfumy and classy, with a balanced 'racio' of blackberry, plum fruit, smoke and wood. This 'ratio' refers to the harmonious blend of these flavours, creating a complex and layered taste. On the palate, you'll find a delightful mix of red fruits(strawberries and cherries). Length is more than reasonable. There are significant scores: 95 Tim Atkins, 93 Falstaff, and 92 Wine Enthusiast.
2010 has a tannic structure and finishes fine. It is denser and weightier. Fresher and riper than 2002, 1999 and 1996, this 2010 finishes nicely: medium length, dry finish with balanced fruit and wood; the suitable alcohol; tamed, dense tannins; slowly evolving with discreet charm. This claret has the structure of a classified growth at a great price(thanks to the low or non-scores from Robert Parker et al. and James Suckling).
In a recent, exclusive Olympian tasting, the 2003 Angludet vintage proved its mettle, outshining a host of better-known wines. Sold out, that 2003 vintage should have demanded more of your attention and rewarded patience and a discerning palate. In that blind tasting, five seasoned wine tasters scored this vintage an impressive 3rd place, with a weighted average score of 88.68. It surpassed the likes of Boyd Cantenac, Centenac Brown, Siran, La Gurgue, Dauzac, Ferriere, Marquis de Terme, Monbrison, Marjolla, and others. While it did lose marginally to Durfort Viviens (87.15) and du Tertre (87.08), its performance was still commendable. So, the old vintages of 1996, 1999, 2002, and 2010 that we are showing here will also be as good. For this Cru-level, like Margaux, these vintages will require patience in the tasting. Don't expect these vintages to give power and fresh fruit; they are more to be appreciated on subtleties. They may need 30 minutes of full decanting.
Surrounded by vineyards of the highest prestige, Giscours, Brane-Cantenac, and Kirwan, these vintages from d'Angludet stand tall. These are not just vineyards; they are the guardians of a rich history and a testament to the art of winemaking. On pebbly stones, no grass growth is possible—one of our first bottles of fine claret, a testament to the rich history of this wine, 30 years back.
