The 2015 En Primeur campaign started in earnest today with the first serious release, from the very successful commune of Margaux, in the shape of the delicious Ch Angludet.
The Sichel family have been established Bordeaux merchants for six generations. It was Ben’s parents, Peter and Diana, who fell in love with this striking property on the edge of Cantenac, bought it in 1960, and made it their family home for them and their six children.
Superbly position within the most important commune of the appellation of Margaux, Ch Angludet has rightly created a reputation as an estate producing wines of the calibre of many 4th and 5th growths in the Médoc. Since succeeding his father as estate manager and wine maker in the early 2000s, Ben has continued the family ideals for making wines of tremendous quality, reflecting true Margaux characteristics and which are outstanding value for money.
The 2015 is, in our view, a particularly strong example of this lovely estate. Margaux is recognised as one of the star appellations for the vintage, having benefited from some of the very best of the climatic conditions during the year and avoided the September rains that affected some of the more northerly vineyards in the region.
2015 Ch Angludet Cru Bourgeois Margaux
£216 per 12 bottles IB | £228 per 24 half bottles IB | £228 per 6 magnums IB | £285 per 3 double magnums IB | £179 per Imperial (6 litre) IB | £281 per Salmanazar (9 litre) IB
A very true Angludet blend of 50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 40% Merlot and the final 10% Petit Verdot, which is always a favourite of Peter Sichel’s and provides volume and drive to the blend. Dense purple in colour, this has a particularly perfumed aroma of fresh pomegranates and cherry fruits. In the palate it balances a very appealing and generous volume of fruit, with a subtle freshness, which uplifts the flavours and provides life and vigour at the end. This is a lovely wine for mid-term aging.
90-92 points. Drink 2022-2030 David Roberts MW
The Petit Verdot did its job by filling up the palate and giving a perfect link between the Cabernet Sauvignon and the Merlot. There is a darker hue, more richness and a touch more power here than usual for Angludet. It is spicy and slightly exotic and this is certainly a slightly higher IQ style than the normal jolly good fellow style with which I am so familiar. I know from experience that Angludet ages very well, but this vintage is the first in a while to warrant a ‘+’ signifying a particularly long-lived wine.
17.5+ points. Matthew Jukes
Very dark. Interesting peppery nose with real attack and vigour. Luscious fruit. Perhaps not the absolute concentration of a great long-term wine but should give lots of pleasure early.
Drink 2022-2030 17- points. Jancis Robinson