Les Angelots de Gracia
Saint-Emilion Red Bordeaux Blend
St. Émilion, Libournais, Bordeaux, France
I thought Les Angelots de Gracia was the second wine of Gracia, the OG “garagiste” producer from Bordeaux. Well, I was today years old when I learned that was not the case, rather it is a unique expression made in the same fashion as Gracia, but highlighting different terroir. Whatever, the results are delicious.
Poured into a decanter about an hour before service. The 2011 Les Angelots de Gracia pours a deep ruby color with a near opaque core; medium+ viscosity with moderate staining of the tears. On the nose, the wine is developing but beginning to show some vinous qualities with notes of brambles, plums, tobacco, mocha, milk chocolate covered toffee, leather, fertile earth, gentle baking spices. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium+ tannins and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose though it’s a little green on the finish (2011 vintage coming through?). But this is a really tasty wine if not on the more lean side…and that’s a compliment. Whether it’s the vintage or restraint or both, this is quite lovely!
For what it’s worth, I have never really sought out Michel Gracia’s elusive wines for two reasons: 1) I wouldn’t like the modern style and 2) they are elusive and expensive. As it turns out, only one of those things are true. These wines are delicious and worth the effort to seek out (and occasionally splurge for). Drink now with an hour decant and enjoy through 2031.
I thought Les Angelots de Gracia was the second wine of Gracia, the OG “garagiste” producer from Bordeaux. Well, I was today years old when I learned that was not the case, rather it is a unique expression made in the same fashion as Gracia, but highlighting different terroir. Whatever, the results are delicious.
Poured into a decanter about an hour before service. The 2011 Les Angelots de Gracia pours a deep ruby color with a near opaque core; medium+ viscosity with moderate staining of the tears. On the nose, the wine is developing but beginning to show some vinous qualities with notes of brambles, plums, tobacco, mocha, milk chocolate covered toffee, leather, fertile earth, gentle baking spices. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium+ tannins and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose though it’s a little green on the finish (2011 vintage coming through?). But this is a really tasty wine if not on the more lean side…and that’s a compliment. Whether it’s the vintage or restraint or both, this is quite lovely!
For what it’s worth, I have never really sought out Michel Gracia’s elusive wines for two reasons: 1) I wouldn’t like the modern style and 2) they are elusive and expensive. As it turns out, only one of those things are true. These wines are delicious and worth the effort to seek out (and occasionally splurge for). Drink now with an hour decant and enjoy through 2031.
This thing belched big plum fruit off the cork, emitted funk shoe from the bottle, then presented a very nice combo of the two from the glass, with herbaceous aromatics I am going to attribute to a good dose of Cab Franc? Without looking, of course.
Hard to nail this down as old Merlot, as it exhibits a Grenache-like quality except for a smoky, schroomy, graphite-minty, and dry-spiced teriyaki thing (yes, Nate) going on, but earthy-sexy nonetheless, and full of colloquial, Bordelaise anecdotes.
This thing belched big plum fruit off the cork, emitted funk shoe from the bottle, then presented a very nice combo of the two from the glass, with herbaceous aromatics I am going to attribute to a good dose of Cab Franc? Without looking, of course.
Hard to nail this down as old Merlot, as it exhibits a Grenache-like quality except for a smoky, schroomy, graphite-minty, and dry-spiced teriyaki thing (yes, Nate) going on, but earthy-sexy nonetheless, and full of colloquial, Bordelaise anecdotes.
Earthy and meaty, opens up beautifully with dark chocolate. Silky and luscious.
Earthy and meaty, opens up beautifully with dark chocolate. Silky and luscious.
Dec 26th, 2015Improved greatly with air. Lighter in style, with great iron and mineral notes. Dried cherry and lengthy finish.
Improved greatly with air. Lighter in style, with great iron and mineral notes. Dried cherry and lengthy finish.
Oct 18th, 2015
This is a fantastic bottle of wine. Great value and drinkable now. 2011.
This is a fantastic bottle of wine. Great value and drinkable now. 2011.
Feb 28th, 2015
