Magnum - Château Fleur Cardinale - Saint-Emilion Grand Cru 2018

Vinous

90-92 / 100

par Neal Martin le 15/11/2019

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 / 100

par Antonio Galloni le 03/05/2019

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 /

par Jacques Perrin le 01/05/2019

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 / 100

par Jeff Leve le 23/04/2019

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 / 100

par Lisa Perrotti-Brown le 23/04/2019

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 / 100

par Roger Voss le 17/04/2019

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 / 100

par James Suckling le 12/04/2019

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 / 100

par Jean-Marc Quarin le 08/04/2019

Wine Spectator

93-96 / 100

par James Molesworth le 03/04/2019

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.