Intense nose of redcurrant and bramble jelly. Gains a lot of herbal and earthy complexity with some aeration. Very satisfying balance of full, powdery tannins and restrained richness. Quite sweet entry, but this turns decisively dry at the long, straight and elegant finish. Hint of warmth from alcohol, but this is part of the style. Drink or hold.

The 2011 Angelus has a lovely bouquet with ample red fruit, fireside hearth/ash and a touch of Earl Grey. Fine definition and lift here. The palate is very well balanced with supple tannins, fine bead of acidity, quite sensual for the growing season with a judicious plushness and a sense of breeding on the finish. Superb.

The 2011 Angelus is another winner from Hubert de Bouard. Supple and sexy with lots of blueberry and black raspberry fruit intermixed with licorice, barbecue smoke and camphor, this medium to full-bodied, supple-textured, sexy effort offers delicious drinking now, and promises to become even better over the next decade. It should keep for 15 or more years.

The dark plum, raspberry and red currant fruit has a very sleek feel, lending a forward profile to the wine. Shows well-coiled grip underneath, with dark tobacco and briar hints echoing through the finish and emerging more with aeration. Should expand with cellaring.