WTN; Angelus-Wasn't sure if we had picked Merlot...so...

I'll post last night's note here.

And it was a beauty, pretty captivating up there in the top ten wines of the last three years class:

2001 Chateau Angelus St Emilion 1er Grand Cru Classe.

What a captivating Merlot-based Bordeaux blend! If I had to choose a single adjective, it would be "refreshing."
This wine was quite dark in the decanter, almost black, with no obvious fading at the rim. Nose was pretty captivating, with juicy currant fruit, minerality, earth. The palate was delicious and just sang with the food (lamb chops with stuffing). There was red cherry, black currant, earth, anise, and mineral notes all tied together with that bracing minerality/juicyness that really complemented the food. All despite mediocre storage over the past two years. This may be my wine of the year. 97 points+

(Also, with the Salad course and artichokes, we had a very nice 2004 Alsatian Gewurtztraminor from Boecker. Really nice honey and spice notes with refreshing minerality. There are some wines that complement artichokes!)

[David M. Bueker]

That mediocre storage might have been the key to the wine showing so well. Many of the 2001s are still rather closed in from my experience.

That thought occurred to me. I probably should have it in really good storage and wait another ten years. Somehow, this bottle did not get put into my Napa wine locker.

But, I ain't complaining. This was one of those "wow" wines (along with the Willi Schaefer riesling below)