Anjou Angel Moon

[Oswaldo Costa]

Mobilized by SFJoe's positive report on the 2010 La Lune, we opened our first Mark Angelis over the last two evenings. We did not try to visit him when in Anjou because of his "unsympathetic" reputation, but I’ve been quite curious about the bad boy's wines.

2002 La Ferme de la Sansonnière (Mark Angeli) Anjou La Lune 13.0%
Demeter symbol. Angeli identifies himself on the label as "paysan à Thouarcé." Beautiful metallic orange. Pleasant, predominantly oxidative aromas, with apricot, honey and a citric edge. Delicious mouth feel, with good acidity, and a slightly caramelized sweetness that falls way short of demi-sec. The oxidative element is beautifully contained. Intellectual and hedonistic. We were hugely sorry when the last drop rode into the sunset.

2004 La Ferme de la Sansonnière (Mark Angeli) Anjou La Lune 13.5%
Promoted to "paysan solidaire à Thouarcé." Same beautiful color. Nose also oxidative, but less. White florals, light citric edge. Excellent texture and weight. Same slightly caramelized sweetness, which I don’t love, but can live with. Also on the dry side. A lighter version of the 2002, very pleasant, less interesting, perhaps because firing on fewer cylinders.

 

[Yixin]

The 2002 La Lune is very, very good.

 

[SFJoe]

I am afraid to keep these, not enough SO2. But would gladly drink them.

 

[Oswaldo Costa]

These seemed unaffected by the lack of sulphur, unlike a 2004 Courtois Quartz opened recently, where the difference between oxidised from lack of SO2 and oxidative seemed crystal clear once the kitchen sink had been graced.

 

[Rahsaan]

originally posted by SFJoe:
I am afraid to keep these, not enough SO2. But would gladly drink them.

I was surprised as well. I remember when I first bought these wines the shopkeepers used to have me afraid they would go off on the walk home. But Cliff opened a 2001 La Lune last year that I wouldn't have thought anyone would keep. And it was quite nice and I was glad he kept it.