Castle Fleur Cardinale - Saint-Emilion Grand Cru 2015

Vinifera

4 / 5

the5/31/2016

Notes fruitées avec une touche florale très noble. Corps d’une grande richesse de constitution. Ample, généreux, il est fidèle à son style opulent, suave et très gourmand. Magnifique !

The Wine Cellar Insider

93-95 / 100

byJeff Levethe4/30/2016

It's the texture that reels you in and rolls you over. A lavish, satiny cloud of luscious fruits, flowers, coffee bean, juicy plum liqueur and sweet black cherries coated in chocolate keep you involved with this wine. Concentrated, rich and round, the wine was produced from a blend of 75% Merlot, 20% Cabernet Franc and 5% Cabernet Sauvignon. Reaching 14.5% alcohol with a pH of 3.47, the wine is aging in 100% new, French oak barrels.

Wine Advocate

90-92 / 100

byNeal Martinthe4/29/2016

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.

Decanter.com

91 / 100

byJames Lawther MWthe4/28/2016

One of the latest to harvest in St-Emilion. Rich, plush and modern – oozes fruit. Tannins are ripe and firm with chocolate notes from the oak. Successful in that seductive, come-hither style.
2020-2030

Bettane & Desseauve

16-17 / 20

the4/28/2016

Puissant et corpulent, volume intense, tannin solide.

Vinous

90-93 / 100

byAntonio Gallonithe4/27/2016

The 2015 Fleur Cardinale has been a bit inconsistent en primeur, but my most recent example suggests the wine may be settling down a bit. Ripeness is pushed to the edge in a dark, voluptuous Saint-Émilion endowed with superb depth and intensity. The flavors are inky and jammy to the core, with plenty of blackberry preserve, menthol, licorice, plum, dark spice and chocolate notes that flesh out on the wine's sweeping, ample frame. The 2015 is currently aging in 100% new French oak barrels. The Decoster family prefers a relatively short 12 months in oak for Fleur Cardinale. Taking the wine out of oak at the right time will be critical in ensuring the 2015 retains the seductive charm it has today. Tasted five times.

Jancis Robinson

16 / 20

byJancis Robinsonthe4/26/2016

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.

Drink 2022-2032

Jean-Marc QUARIN

16,25 / 20

byJean-Marc Quarinthe4/14/2016

Couleur sombre, intense et belle. Nez fruité, frais, floral, finement vanillé avec même une touche de cerise. Bouche ronde, juteuse, savoureuse, pleine évoluant sur des tanins enveloppés et sans angle. Le tout est suivi d'une très bonne longueur. L'élevage en dira plus.

Jamessuckling.com

95-96 / 100

byJames Sucklingthe4/5/2016

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.

Wine Spectator

90-93 / 100

byJames Molesworththe4/3/2016

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.—J.M.