Appellations

Fleur Cardinale 2015

St Emilion, Grand Cru Classé

GBP Price: Size Quantities Units status Actions
Tasting Notes

This is tight and very focused with gorgeous blackberry, blueberry and stone aromas and flavors. Such purity of fruit here. Full and very, very polished. Compacted and compressed.

Score: 95 - 96 James Suckling, JamesSuckling.com Date: 01 April 2016

The 2015 Château Fleur Cardinale is a blend of 70% Merlot, 25% Cabernet Franc and 5% Cabernet Sauvignon matured in 100% new oak. It offers sweet dates and figs tincturing the dark cherry and blueberry fruit on the nose. Heady perhaps, yet there is more delineation here than I have discerned in other vintages. The palate is full-bodied with lush ripe black cherry fruit, blueberry and cassis coming in behind, fanning out towards a plush finish that just needs a little more precision to come through.

Score: 90 - 92 Neal Martin, Wine Advocate, RobertParker.com Maturity: 2020-2045 Date: 01 April 2016

An extreme wine, the 2015 Fleur Cardinale pushes ripeness to the edge. The flavors are inky, jammy and intense, with plenty of blackberry preserve, menthol, licorice, plum, dark spice and chocolate notes. The finish is broad, sweeping and ample. There is not much subtlety here, rather Fleur Cardinale is a wine of pure opulence and intensity. I saw some variation across the four samples I tasted. If the bottled wine captures a bit of freshness, the 2015 may turn out to be outstanding, but some samples were decidedly pruney and overripe. Tasted four times.

Score: 87 - 90 Antonio Galloni, Vinous.com Date: 01 April 2016

Blackish crimson. Very sweet - too sweet? Smells of fermented blackcurrant pastilles. Vieux jeu! But there is a bit of freshness here. Some liveliness and drive on top of pretty ripe fruit.

Score: 16 Jancis Robinson MW, JancisRobinson.com Maturity: 2022-2032 Date: 01 April 2016

Shows very pretty fruit, with boysenberry and raspberry confiture notes rolling along, picking up hints of anise and fruitcake. There’s lush toast and velvety structure, but the energy is good enough to let it all play out harmoniously.

Score: 90 - 93 James Molesworth, Wine Spectator Date: 01 April 2016