One of the finest vintages made at the estate, the Chateau Angelus 1989 has a very intense, powerful bouquet with blackberry, cedar, cooked meat and a little Christmas cake. Whereas the 1990 gives you everything up front, the 1989 is far more coquettish and takes time to unfold. The palate is very smooth on the entry, beautifully balanced with filigree tannins. There is an edginess to the 1989, much more feminine with a touch of truffle, coca and pepper on the finish. Wonderful, a wine at its peak, although it shows no signs of flagging. Tasted October 2011.

Almost nothing left at the estate, and hard to find globally. Hard not to gulp down also, as this is delicious. Tobacco, orange peel, baked earth, Christmas spice and sweet raspberry fruits dominate on the opening beats. Melted and silky tannins, we are in full cigar box, leather, sweet liquorice, black truffle and camphor territory. A brilliant wine, at its peak drinking, showcasing seductive tertiary flavours. This was made just a few years after Hubert de Boüard took over full control, and it reflects the fact that something special was happening at Angélus at the time.

The 1989 Château Angelus was singing, with a gorgeous array of red and black fruits, leafy tobacco, tapenade, and cedar pencil (I would have guess Médoc if blind) that makes you sit back and sigh in contentment. Just complex, nuanced, and satisfying on the nose, it hits the palate with medium to full-bodied richness that carries resolved tannins, a pure, layered, elegant mouthfeel, and a great finish. Tasted next to the 2009, it doesn't quite have the depth or grandeur of that vintage (or the 1990, for that matter), but it’s just a beautiful expression of the château that is drinking at point. Count yourself lucky if you have these in the cellar. It will evolve gracefully over the coming decade and have a gradual decline thereafter.

Wow. What a reserved, yet seductive nose of milk chocolate, raspberry and mineral aromas that go on and on. Full-bodied, with ultrafine tannins and a mineral, berry, blackberry and violet flavor. This is polished and racy on the palate. So young still. Why wait? But serious and classic.??89/?99 Bordeaux blind retrospective (2009). Drink now.
– JS (WineSpectator.com, 2010)

Possibly not showing as well as a bottle I had recently from my own cellar, this particular offering, which was about 50% Cabernet Franc and the rest Merlot, has a dark plum/purple color, but is still quite youthful. A beautiful sweet blueberry and blackberry-scented nose of olive, licorice and cedar wood is followed by a full-bodied and opulent wine, with hints of espresso roast and chocolate as well. It seemed to gain a lot in the glass, but the astringent tannins in the finish still seem a bit awkward and distracting. I think bottles I’ve had have generally shown better, although this is certainly an exceptional wine. It has just suffered somewhat in comparison with several of the other vintages. Drink now to 2030.

Very dark but looks shinier than the 1990. Exotic, tropical flowers – lilies? – nose. Fresher than 1990. Thick, sweet, meaty start to the palate – a bit inky – much less open than the 1990. Not quite ready even. More solid and stolid. A little bit trapped in its oak. I think you could keep this longer than the 1990. (JR)