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Fleur Cardinale 2016

St Emilion, Grand Cru Classé

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Tasting Notes

The 2016 Fleur Cardinale has a riper, more ostentatious bouquet than the Croix Cardinale, without the same delineation and poise. The palate is ripe and generous on the entry, coating the mouth in pastille-like black cherry and blueberry fruit, and a little heady in style, just missing some delineation on the finish. Fine, though it does not match the promise it showed in barrel. Side by side, I prefer the Croix Cardinale.

Score: 90

Neal Martin, Vinous.com Maturity: 2023-2038 01 January 2019

The 2016 Fleur Cardinale is a blend of 75% Merlot, 20% Cabernet Franc and 5% Cabernet Sauvignon aged in 100% new oak. Now this is a more restrained take for Fleur Cardinale, very pure and refined with red cherries, wild strawberry and light cassis notes, the oak neatly integrated (better than the 2015). The palate is medium-bodied with a gentle grip on the entry, a fine bead of acidity, crisp and structured with a tightly wound finish that suggests that it will need four or five years in bottle. I suspect this will surpass the 2015 Fleur Cardinale - this is very fine.

Score: 92 - 94

Neal Martin, Wine Advocate, RobertParker.com Maturity: 2022-2042 28 April 2017

The 2016 Fleur Cardinale is a sumptuous wine. There is no shortage of richness or volume here, that much is obvious. Sweet tobacco, leather, espresso and cherry abound. The 2016 is exotic and flamboyant in style, and yet the new oak is overdone to the point that the early signs of oxidation are already present. I very much like the intensity here, but the reality is that the 2016 could have and should have been an even better wine.

Score: 93

Antonio Galloni, Vinous.com Maturity: 2021-2036 01 January 2019

The 2016 Fleur Cardinale is utterly magnificent. Rich and sumptuous on the palate, it brings together luxurious, super-ripe fruit and striking aromatic freshness to balance things out. This is a stunning vintage for Fleur Cardinale in which all the elements come together to yield a complete, deeply satisfying and delicious Saint-Émilion. Jean-Philippe Fort is the consultant. Tasted two times.

Score: 92 - 95

Antonio Galloni, Vinous.com 25 April 2017

Dark with chocolatey fruit. Concentrated with grippy tannins, finishing dry.

Score: 91 - 93

Albany Vintners, - 19 April 2017

Dark crimson. Fresh, quite vital nose. Pretty dense and with a finish that is much more dry than sweet. Quite noble and ambitious rather than a quick route to sweet oaky stardom. Real structure here. Throbs on the end. (17- Points)

Score: 17

Jancis Robinson MW, JancisRobinson.com Maturity: 2025-2040 13 April 2017

Well-endowed, with dark plum and blackberry puree notes forming the core, while a hefty dose of licorice-accented toast frames everything. Lush mouthfeel, though there is some energy rippling underneath. The fruit is copious and alluring, though this leans to the power/extraction side of the ledger.

Score: 92 - 95

James Molesworth, Wine Spectator 10 April 2017

A dense and layered red with blackberry and blueberry character. Hints of stones and minerals. Full body and chewy tannins. Serious potential.

Score: 94 - 95

James Suckling, JamesSuckling.com 24 March 2017