The 2022 Château Fleur Cardinale is a blend of 78% Merlot, 16% Cabernet Franc, and 6% Cabernet Sauvignon, vinified with a cold pre-fermentation maceration and raised for 12-14 months in 72% new French oak, 18% one-year-old barrels, 7% large foudres, and 3% amphora. It's a full-bodied, layered Saint-Émilion exhibiting dark berries, graphite, crushed stone, and truffly earth-like nuances on the nose. This ripe, yet flawlessly balanced Saint-Emilion has moderate acidity, silky tannins, and a seamless, polished texture. A slightly modern-styled expression, it’s nevertheless lush, opulent, and utterly compelling, showing both depth and finesse.
96 points, Jeb Dunnuck (Feb 2025)
The 2022 Fleur Cardinale is pure and total sensuality. Silky and nicely layered, this medium-bodied Saint-Émilion is a delight. Elegant tannins complement a core of dark-toned fruit. Lavender, espresso, licorice, dried herbs and menthol lead into the long, sustained finish.
95 points, Antonio Galloni, Vinous (Jan 2025)
Spiced cherries, cedar, white pepper and dark mushrooms on the nose. Almost full-bodied on the palate, with ripe, dusty, caressing tannins that are evenly packed. Juicy, long and complete. Really well balanced and already appealing, but better after 2026.
95 points, Zekun Shuai, James Suckling (Jan 2025)
These guys know how to combine intensity and lift, and here they capture the exuberance and exoticism of the spice and fruit character of 2022 wiyhout going overboard. This is big but has enjoyable floral character and chalky tannins, needs some time in bottle to soften, but there is juice and punch.
94 points, Jane Anson (May 2023)
Ripe strawberries and cherries give a sweet scent on the nose. Juicy and alive, this has such a charm about it. Crystalline, juicy and gently sweet fruit is given a lifted frame by high acidity and supported by softly gripping tannins with a mineral, crushed stone undertone. Feels effortless with a less is more approach. I like this a lot and it already feels very accessible.
94 points, Georgina Hindle, Decanter (Jan 2025)
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