Château Fleur Cardinale

Grand Cru Classé Saint-Émilion Red Bordeaux Blend

9.1539 ratings
9.181 pro ratings
St. Émilion, Libournais, Bordeaux, France
Red Bordeaux Blend
Chili & Hot Spicy, Potato, White Rice, Mushrooms, Pasta, Pork, Salami & Prosciutto, Pungent Cheese, Lamb, Tomato-Based, Onion, Shallot, Garlic, Beef, Hard Cheese, Venison
Top Notes For
Lyle Fass

Founder Fass Selections

9.6

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.

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
Ken Z
9.3

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.

Dec 8th, 2023
David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.3

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, 2023
Ken Z
9.2

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.

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.

Mar 17th, 2023
Sipping Fine Wine

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, 2021
Ken Z
9.4

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.

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.

Apr 12th, 2020
Ken Z
9.4

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

Oct 10th, 2019
Paul Masson

Ready to drink. I like this after supper

Ready to drink. I like this after supper

Apr 27th, 2019
Sipping Fine Wine

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 Crimson with ripe fruit aromas & herb notes. On the palate black cherry & raspberry, currant-like, with tobacco & cacao notes. Dusty fine tannins, lingering finish ending with earthy mineral tones, drinkable now, but ‘12 has more L-T aging.

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 Crimson with ripe fruit aromas & herb notes. On the palate black cherry & raspberry, currant-like, with tobacco & cacao notes. Dusty fine tannins, lingering finish ending with earthy mineral tones, drinkable now, but ‘12 has more L-T aging.

Aug 11th, 2018
Sipping Fine Wine

Vineyard is planted in a clay-limestone soil in middle of plateau. Vines mainly merlot (70%), 15% cab sauvignon & 15% cab franc. A blend of 75% Merlot, 20% Cabernet Franc & 5% Cabernet Sauvignon, very deep red with big fruit, similar to ‘12. On the palate rich flavors of layered berry fruits moving towards jammy, complex fine tannins needing more time to develop. Lingering finish with focused ending, great but needs more time. Did vertical on ‘12, ‘13 & ‘14; ‘12 was best, ‘14 most potential.

Vineyard is planted in a clay-limestone soil in middle of plateau. Vines mainly merlot (70%), 15% cab sauvignon & 15% cab franc. A blend of 75% Merlot, 20% Cabernet Franc & 5% Cabernet Sauvignon, very deep red with big fruit, similar to ‘12. On the palate rich flavors of layered berry fruits moving towards jammy, complex fine tannins needing more time to develop. Lingering finish with focused ending, great but needs more time. Did vertical on ‘12, ‘13 & ‘14; ‘12 was best, ‘14 most potential.

Oct 8th, 2017