Château Fleur Cardinale
Grand Cru Classé Saint-Émilion Red Bordeaux Blend
St. Émilion, Libournais, Bordeaux, France
Thrilling. Enchanting fruit. Total transparency. Pleasure and sophistication on another level.
Thrilling. Enchanting fruit. Total transparency. Pleasure and sophistication on another level.
Jun 13th, 2024
Gorgeous nose of sweet wood, bittersweet cocoa, tobacco, spices and striking loamy minerality. This wine goes to 11 on the nose with air but compared to the 16 it is more aromatically exciting on the pop and pour. Palate is rich and ripe with deep cassis and berry fruit but also terrific energy and minerality. A gorgeous mid palate plumpness as well. Really nice and long finish. Such amazing energy and with the requisite ripeness of 18 it still has stunning freshness and energy. Now after some coaxing the air has really opened tbis nose with glorious ethereal spices and sweet tobacco.
Gorgeous nose of sweet wood, bittersweet cocoa, tobacco, spices and striking loamy minerality. This wine goes to 11 on the nose with air but compared to the 16 it is more aromatically exciting on the pop and pour. Palate is rich and ripe with deep cassis and berry fruit but also terrific energy and minerality. A gorgeous mid palate plumpness as well. Really nice and long finish. Such amazing energy and with the requisite ripeness of 18 it still has stunning freshness and energy. Now after some coaxing the air has really opened tbis nose with glorious ethereal spices and sweet tobacco.
May 25th, 2024Drinking so well. A great wine and a first for me. It’s got so much freshness and energy is the headline. Nose is cassis, vanilla, tobacco, spice and some hints of black fruits. Also a background of awesome minerality. A plump nose which belies what comes on the palate. It’s rich but just teeming with energy and so much black and red fruit that is super crunchy and luscious. Gorgeous clarity to the minerality and a freshness I haven’t tasted in Bordeaux maybe ever. I really like the vibe of this wine. The finish keeps pumping. Very very impressive. It’s also so sappy on the finish and just outrageously complex.
Drinking so well. A great wine and a first for me. It’s got so much freshness and energy is the headline. Nose is cassis, vanilla, tobacco, spice and some hints of black fruits. Also a background of awesome minerality. A plump nose which belies what comes on the palate. It’s rich but just teeming with energy and so much black and red fruit that is super crunchy and luscious. Gorgeous clarity to the minerality and a freshness I haven’t tasted in Bordeaux maybe ever. I really like the vibe of this wine. The finish keeps pumping. Very very impressive. It’s also so sappy on the finish and just outrageously complex.
May 4th, 2024
Drank 12 /7/23.
Wishing everyone a Merry Christmas!
Scents of plum, blackberry, currant, and chocolate. Flavors are similar, with blackberry, plum sauce, and soil. Tannins are still firm, but, well integrated and mix with black fruits on the long finish. This one goes on for over a minute. Drinking well now, but showing no signs of slowing down. This should last another 10 plus years, but is in a nice place now.
4/22/8/4/5 +50 = 93 pts.
Great with a NY strip, but even better with the balsamic glaze that complimented it. This pairs wonderfully with sweet dark fruit flavors.
Drank 12 /7/23.
Wishing everyone a Merry Christmas!
Scents of plum, blackberry, currant, and chocolate. Flavors are similar, with blackberry, plum sauce, and soil. Tannins are still firm, but, well integrated and mix with black fruits on the long finish. This one goes on for over a minute. Drinking well now, but showing no signs of slowing down. This should last another 10 plus years, but is in a nice place now.
4/22/8/4/5 +50 = 93 pts.
Great with a NY strip, but even better with the balsamic glaze that complimented it. This pairs wonderfully with sweet dark fruit flavors.
Previous notes apply. 05 drinking so we’ll now!!! No place for Merlot like Saint Emilion/Right Bank. Everything else is a distant second.
Previous notes apply. 05 drinking so we’ll now!!! No place for Merlot like Saint Emilion/Right Bank. Everything else is a distant second.
Oct 28th, 2023Drank 3/16/23
Blackberry,plum, and a bit of graphite and wet earth on the nose. Flavors of dark fruit, plum, cassis, spice, and wood. Still quite tannic, but red meat smooths out the edges. Dry, black fruit on the long, drying finish. Should hang on another 10 years.
3/22/8/4/5 +50 =92 pts.
Drank 3/16/23
Blackberry,plum, and a bit of graphite and wet earth on the nose. Flavors of dark fruit, plum, cassis, spice, and wood. Still quite tannic, but red meat smooths out the edges. Dry, black fruit on the long, drying finish. Should hang on another 10 years.
3/22/8/4/5 +50 =92 pts.
Located to the east of the village of Saint-Émilion, on one of the high points of the appellation and it extends over 20 hectares. Ch was promoted to "Saint-Emilion Grand cru classé" in 2006. A blend of 80% Merlot, 15% Cabernet Franc and 5% Cabernet Sauvignon. Dark Ruby with ripe fruit aromas & herb notes. On the palate black cherry & raspberry, currant-like, with tobacco & cacao notes. Dusty fine tannins, long finish ending with earthy mineral tones, drinking fine now!
Located to the east of the village of Saint-Émilion, on one of the high points of the appellation and it extends over 20 hectares. Ch was promoted to "Saint-Emilion Grand cru classé" in 2006. A blend of 80% Merlot, 15% Cabernet Franc and 5% Cabernet Sauvignon. Dark Ruby with ripe fruit aromas & herb notes. On the palate black cherry & raspberry, currant-like, with tobacco & cacao notes. Dusty fine tannins, long finish ending with earthy mineral tones, drinking fine now!
Jun 13th, 2021Drank 4/12/20. Excellent with lamb chops and a red wine sauce.
Plum sauce, blackberry, raspberry, spearmint, soil, and a bit of petrol are easily coaxed from the glass. Flavors of plum sauce, raspberry coulis, tobacco, and mint are backed by medium + well integrated tannin. Drink now and over the next 5-10 years.
4/22/9/5/4 +50 = 94 pts.
Drank 4/12/20. Excellent with lamb chops and a red wine sauce.
Plum sauce, blackberry, raspberry, spearmint, soil, and a bit of petrol are easily coaxed from the glass. Flavors of plum sauce, raspberry coulis, tobacco, and mint are backed by medium + well integrated tannin. Drink now and over the next 5-10 years.
4/22/9/5/4 +50 = 94 pts.
Nose of black fruit, sweet pipe tobacco, and purple flowers. Sweet black fruit, tobacco, and medium, well integrated tannins on the palate. Long finish. An earlier drinking style, but could also age for many years.
Decanted 3 hours.
4/22/9/5/4+50=94 pts
Nose of black fruit, sweet pipe tobacco, and purple flowers. Sweet black fruit, tobacco, and medium, well integrated tannins on the palate. Long finish. An earlier drinking style, but could also age for many years.
Decanted 3 hours.
4/22/9/5/4+50=94 pts
Ready to drink. I like this after supper
Ready to drink. I like this after supper
Apr 27th, 2019