Château Fleur Cardinale 2012

90-91/100

Plenty of fruit and velvety tannins. Full body, juicy fruit, and a wonderful depth for the vintage.

90-92/100

Ce secteur est le plus tardif des grands crus classés, vendangé du 15 octobre au 3 novembre, sous les pluies. Le vignoble, qui a demandé de nombreux soins (vendanges vertes, effeuillage…), est configuré dans ce sens et a résisté. Fruité, très gourmand, frais, floral, son nez est assez spectaculaire en primeur. La texture est tapissante, de bonne tenue. Dans le style tardif, une réussite.

92-95/100

The flagship wine from the Decoster family, this blend of 80% Merlot, 15% Cabernet Franc and 5% Cabernet Sauvignon has been a hugely successful wine since they acquired this 58-acre estate and revolutionized the level of quality. This is consistently one of the best St.-Emilions and over-achieving for its classification. The 2012 has pure, striking aromatics of blueberry, black raspberry, minerals and flowers. Medium to full-bodied, ripe and multi-dimensional, with a beautiful texture, this is stunning wine that completely dominates its classification and over-delivers in terms of quality and potential longevity. It should drink well for 15 or more years. Yields were a modest 34 hectoliters per hectare from an unusually late harvest - October 22 to November 2.

92-93/100

Subtil et suave, beau fruit noir soyeux, intensité généreuse, allonge souple. Coup de coeur GUIDE BETTANE & DESSEAUVE 2016 / Septembre 2015 Large et volumineux pour l’année, très harmonieux dans sa texture et dans sa fin de bouche, excellent !

92/100

December 2019. This is a little more mellow and balanced than the 2011, and for me much better for it. Full of soft gourmet-edged chocolate with plum, raspberry and blackberry fruits. A tiny bit short through the finish, the fruit is definitely softening, and you can drink this already, especially with a few hours in a carafe. Good quality, giving pleasure already, soft tannins. More Cabernet Franc and a little less Cabernet Sauvignon notable in the blend, in a late harvest year that ran from October 22 to November 3. Yield at 37hl/ha. Drinking Window 2019 - 2040

91/100

A lovely core of plum and blackberry fruit is augmented with ganache, dried anise and roasted alder notes. The toasty frame keeps this a bit squared off for now, but there’s a very solid core of velvety fruit here. Needs time. Best from 2018 through 2022.

16.5/20

Guide 2015 Exceptionnelle finesse avec une mesure et une retenue incroyables. Tout est en harmonie, en subtilité. La texture du milieu de bouche est profonde et racée.

16/100

Ce cru qui est désormais un des plus tardifs à vendanger à Saint-Emilion nous offre une belle couleur, un nez fruité, discret pas encore mis en place et une bouche ronde, juteuse, dense, finement crémeuse au toucher qui se développe puissante en seconde partie et finit savoureuse sur une bonne longueur.

16/20

Black as the ace of spades. Blackcurrant cordiale incarnate. Sweet, pure and ripe. Then unexpectedly thick tannins on the palate. A bit tough on the finish but might come round.

93/100

The 2012 Fleur Cardinale is a beautiful example of modern Saint-Emilion. Silky tannins and soft contours wrap around a core of red cherry jam, wild flowers, mint, cinnamon and white pepper. Dramatic and expansive on the palate, the 2012 shows remarkable nuance for such an intense wine. All the elements fall into place effortlessly. January 2016