En bouche, le vin est d’une juste richesse et d’un style résolument hédoniste, avec une chair crémeuse imposante mais fraîche. Très belle réussite.

After a tough 2017 in terms of frost, Fleur Cardinale returns to a more normal blend this year and has produced a very beautiful wine. This is, as ever with this cooler terroir over to the west of St-Emilion, a little bigger than some, with well defined tannins and a fairly masculine feel. Give it time in the glass and the rich, ripe brambly fruits come spilling over, full of juice and promise. The tannins are equally full of life and overall this is extremely appealing. It has settled in already at this early stage, and will age well.

Kräftiges Karmingranat, violette Reflexe, breitere Ockerrandaufhellung. Zart kräuterwürzig unterlegtes Brombeerkonfit, frische Herzkirschen, Orangenzesten, tabakige Nuancen. Mittlerer Körper, elegant, kirschig, feine Extraktsüße, runde Tannine, mineralisch-salzig im Abgang, hat sich gut entwickelt, einn vielseitiger Speisenbegleiter.

Robe grenat intense, reflets violets, éclaircissement du bord ocre plus large. Sous-couche délicatement herbacée de mûres, cerises de cœur fraîches, zeste d'orange, nuances de tabac. Moyennement corsé, élégant, ressemblant à une cerise, douceur de l'extrait fin, tanins ronds, finale minérale-salé, s'est bien développé, un compagnon alimentaire polyvalent.

Blackcurrant, clove, walnut-husk, tobacco and pine-cone aromas. Dried flowers and mocha, too. It’s medium-to full-bodied with firm, tight-grained tannins. Polished layers of dark fruit and wood notes with a long, chewy finish. Focused. Very fine. Try from 2025.

Black core with purple rim. Ripe blackcurrant and blackberry fruit, rich but not excessively sweet in aroma though there is a youthful oaky, charry sweetness that is not out of place in a barrel sample. A dark, oaky intensity on the palate packed with sweet black fruit. The deep-pile tannins are smooth and compact to begin and build to a more chewy finish. Attractively dry texture at the very end even though it is full in the mouth with lots of everything. Surprisingly juicy on the finish. Just enough freshness – typical for 2018. Chewy and full bodied with power but no aggression. The way the wine stayed fresh over several days after opening, even though it is a cask sample, suggests it will age well.

Quant au goût de ce 2018, la nouveauté se porte dans le dernier tiers de la bouche. Le vin tient plus longtemps en finale avec une définition de la trame elle aussi nouvelle, plus précise, plus distinguée, plus mystérieuse, moins simple. Le choix de nouveaux tonneliers et ce second vin y sont bien sûr pour quelque chose. Mais il fallait d'abord être à même de le percevoir puis de le réaliser !

The 2018 Château Fleur Cardinale shows the subtle change in style at this estate, offering slightly more elegance and finesse while still packing plenty of fruit and texture. Coming from a 23.5-hectare vineyard consisting mostly of older vines, the 2018 is currently a tentative blend of 70% Merlot, 25% Cabernet Franc and the rest Cabernet Sauvignon that was harvested starting on September 27th, which is a record early date for this estate. It hit 14.5% alcohol and will spend 12-14 months in new French oak. Perfumed notes of cassis, black raspberries, violets, and spring flowers all emerge from the glass, and it hits the palate with full-bodied richness, a layered, elegant texture, terrific ripeness, and sweet tannins. It’s an elegant yet still sexy wine that shows the vintage beautifully.

Le bouquet de Fleur Cardinale 2018 a le mérite d’immédiatement indiquer d’où il vient, respectivement il affiche un côté crayeux. Ça c’est le plateau calcaire de St-Emilion. Ensuite il y a le côté pruneaux, chocolats et épices…. Ça c’est Fleur Cardinale. Finalement, la complexité est complétée par des nuances de tourbe et de griotte. En bouche le vin se révèle sous différents angles. Oui, il y a le charme de 2018, mais il y a également la finesse, la délicatesse et des tannins qui assurent bien les arrières. Ils sont encore quelque peu accrocheurs, mais dans la configuration du millésime, c’est de bon augure. Finale sapide et persistante.

Ripe and focused, with tasty red and black currant fruit flavors that have a racy edge, mixed with hints of anise, bramble and steeped dark tea developing through the finish. Very solid. Best from 2022 through 2034.

What a wonderful experience to taste this blend of 74% Merlot, 22% Cabernet Franc and the rest Cabernet Sauvignon! It clocks in at 14.5% alcohol but exudes fresh floral and ripe red and dark fruit aromatics that precede a palate both suave and dense, leading to a long finish. Bravo!

The 2018 Fleur Cardinale is bright and focused, yet has all of the raciness the estate's fans have come to expect. Inky red fruit, blood orange, spice, mint and rose petal develop with a bit of coaxing. Today the 2018 is a bit tightly wound, but that should serve it just fine as it ages in bottle. Pretty Cabernet Franc accents linger on the persistent finish.

Deep garnet-purple in color, the 2018 Fleur Cardinale leaps from the glass with vibrant notes of wild blueberries, crushed blackberries and ripe, juicy plums, plus hints of sandalwood, unsmoked cigars, menthol and licorice. Medium to full-bodied, the palate is chock-full of ripe black and blue fruits, framed by velvety tannins and beautiful freshness, finishing long with lots of mineral and exotic spice layers. A very stylish Saint-Émilion!

Millésime de renaissance pour Fleur Cardinale, qui a remis son vignoble en parfaite santé après un 2017 douloureux. On retrouve la signature maison : une approche parfumée, sensuelle, un superbe crémeux, un fruit dense et juteux, précis, qui se déploie avec grâce, mais avec un supplément d’énergie, de fraîcheur et de précision. La texture est veloutée et caressante, les arômes de fruits noirs laissent la place aux épices, à la girofle, à des notes presque orientales. L’ensemble est soutenu par une belle trame acide. Un modèle d’équilibre et d’élégance pour un vin qui gagne encore en précision. Une invitation au voyage.