Les Angelots de Gracia 2015

The 2015 Les Angelots de Gracia is a blend of 80% Merlot and 20% Cabernet Franc. It has a dense, powerful, black cherry and crème de cassis bouquet with violets scents developing in the glass. The palate is dense and powerful like the nose, however, just when you think it will fall into the trap of being the proverbial "blockbuster," it pulls everything back in and actually finishes with finesse and plenty of freshness. Give this 4-5 years in bottle and you should have a fine Saint Émilion. I would just like the aromatics to calm down and gain more composure.

The 2015 Les Angelots de Gracia is bold, powerful and intense. Dark cherry, plum, mocha and spice notes are all pushed forward as the 2015 fills out its frame effortlessly. Bittersweet chocolate, menthol, cloves and new leather wrap around the powerful, imposing finish. Readers should expect a ripe, extracted, super-modern Saint-Émilion. Even with all of its intensity, the 2015 is impeccable. The blend is 90% Merlot and 10% Cabernet Franc picked between October 6 and 8 (late for the year) and aged in 100% new oak. The Angelots was impressive on all three occasions that I tasted it. Jean Philippe Fort is the consulting winemaker.