Fleur Cardinale - Saint-Emilion Grand Cru 2018

Vinous

94

byAntonio Gallonithe3/31/2021

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.

The Wine Cellar Insider

94

byJeff Levethe3/16/2021

Full-bodied, round, lush and polished, this richly textured wine is filled with espresso, dark chocolate, licorice, and dark red fruits. The wine is round, full of flesh and flash with an endless supply of dark chocolate and ripe fruits. The wine is a blend of 70% Merlot, 25% Cabernet Franc and 5% Cabernet Sauvignon.

Vinous

91

byNeal Martinthe3/12/2021

The 2018 Fleur Cardinale replicates the bouquet that I found out of barrel, offering copious and quite precocious black fruit and hints of iodine and vanilla (the latter receding with aeration). The cohesive palate is medium-bodied with sappy black fruit, touches of tar and cedar and sufficient freshness on the peppery finish. A composed Saint-Émilion that just needs to develop more personality with bottle age.

Wine Spectator

93

byJames Molesworththe2/1/2021

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. Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon. Best from 2022 through 2034. 10,000 cases made, 2,500 cases imported. –JM

Yvesbeck.wine

94

byYves Beckthe1/26/2021

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.

Decanter.com

94

byJane Ansonthe1/12/2021

Vinous

90-92

byNeal Martinthe11/15/2019

The 2018 Fleur Cardinale has a tightly wound bouquet that is much more reserved than I expected. Blackberry, boysenberry and wild strawberry aromas laced with vanilla pod and iodine. The palate is ripe and rounded with good acidity, a little chewy in the mouth and then it just lacks a little definition and tension on the finish. Starts well, could have ended better, but overall it has an undercurrent of spiciness that I find appealing. One to watch once bottled.

Vinous

91-94

byAntonio Gallonithe5/3/2019

The 2018 Fleur Cardinale is gorgeous. Supple, racy and wonderfully persistent, the 2018 is shaping up to be a jewel of a wine. Blackberry jam, cloves, chocolate, new leather, licorice and sweet spice all build in a sumptuous, voluptuous Saint-Émilion loaded with class and potential. The question now is really how the 2018 will develop in élevage. Past vintages have been impressive en primeur but then suffered from too much oak during aging. Hopefully that won't be the case here, as the 2018 is really terrific. In the early going, the 2018 does feel a bit less extracted than in the past, and that is certainly a positive development. The blend is 70% Merlot, 25% Cabernet Franc and 5% Cabernet Sauvignon.

Vinifera

90

byJacques Perrinthe5/1/2019

Profil très crémeux, luxuriant, avec presque un côté Amarone. Il trouve pourtant son équilibre à travers ce parti pris sans concession, même si la fraîcheur est absente. C'est une esthétique.

The Wine Cellar Insider

93-95

byJeff Levethe4/23/2019

Loaded with licorice, chocolate, coffee bean and black fruits, the wine is fleshy, round, fruit-filled and finishes with lusciously textured, espresso, dark plums, licorice and even darker cocoa. The wine is a blend of 70% Merlot, 25% Cabernet Franc and 5% Cabernet Sauvignon. The harvest took place September 27 - October 24.

Wine Advocate

91-93

byLisa Perrotti-Brownthe4/23/2019

Deep garnet-purple colored, the 2018 Fleur Cardinale features pronounced baked blueberries, stewed black plums and blackberry preserves scents with touches of bay leaves, moss-covered bark and forest floor. Full-bodied and laden with black fruit preserves sparked by earth and dried herbs, it has a solid backbone of ripe, rounded tannins and just enough freshness, finishing long. Barrel aging is expected to be for 12-14 months in 100% new oak barrels. The tentative blend is 70% Merlot, 25% Cabernet Franc and 5% Cabernet Sauvignon.

Wine Enthusiast

92-94

byRoger Vossthe4/17/2019

Ripe and juicy, this is a delicious wine with its fine tannins and acidity already in harmony. The structure of the wine is powerful with a dry core that will broaden out as the wine matures.

Jamessuckling.com

94-95

byJames Sucklingthe4/12/2019

This is really linear and tight for this winery and shows seriousness and polish. Medium-to full-bodied and a tight, compact palate. Very fresh and long, too. I can see a change to more linear and precise wines here.

Jean-Marc QUARIN

90

byJean-Marc Quarinthe4/8/2019

Wine Spectator

93-96

byJames Molesworththe4/3/2019

Offers lovely fruit, with exotic plum and boysenberry notes gliding along, carried by a very velvety structure. The long finish has a nice flow, showing a latent anise echo. Seems to be holding back a bit, but there's some serious depth of fruit here.