| Angélus 2004 • September 2005 | ANGELUS
1er Grand Cru Classé
2004 Vintage
Surface area :
23.4 hectares (58 acres) in one single block.
Soils :
Clay-limestone in the high part, clay-sand-limestone at the bottom of the hillside slope.
Grape varieties :
- 50% Merlot
- 47% Cabernet Franc
- 3% Cabernet Sauvignon
Density of plantation :
6,500 to 7,500 plants per hectare
Average age of the vines :
30 years
Vineyard management :
Vines grown in the traditional manner. Some of the rows are seeded with grass. De-budding and crop thinning.
Harvesting :
By hand
Vatting period :
3 to 5 weeks
Racking into barrel :
Immediately after the running off.
Ageing :
18 to 22 months
2004 vintage :
From the beginning, 2004 showed signs of being an abundant crop : the bud-break was generous and even and conditions during the flowering were very good.
Minor drought conditions in June slowed down the growth of the berries and at the same time accelerated the vine’s growing cycle.
Conditions at the beginning of the ripening period were more problematic and to some extent worrying during very unsettled weather in August (with cool temperatures for the time of year and rainfall of one third more than the normal average of the last 30 years).
Weather conditions settled however, at the end of August, becoming exceptionally fine during the whole of September and lasting until the middle of October. These conditions (cool nights and day temperatures of between 22°C and 24°C) enabled a slow ripening, conducive to producing elegance and finesse in the wine. This 2004 vintage can be described as one of phenomenal balance.
Quite a large crop, but kept carefully under control. The picking took place between the 30th September and 14th October. Our three sorting tables allowed us to hand-select only the very best fruit of the vintage.
With more Merlot in the blend than usual, the 2004 Château Angélus should be made up of 60% Merlot and 40% Cabernet Franc.
The Merlot has a saturated colour and displays black fruit aromas of cherries and blackcurrants. The tannins are sumptuously fine grained and are already a joy to taste. A lovely fresh finish on the palate brings a definite touch of elegance and breed.
The Cabernet Franc is astonishingly pure, very concentrated, though the tannins are always very rounded, which promises a harmonious, balanced development. | |
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