By Chateau Fleur Cardinale
2018 Saint-Emilion Grand Cru Classe

Vineyard Details
Production Area: 21.5 hectares
Plant Density: 6,225 to 8,000 vines per hectare
Average Vine Age: 40 years old
Terroir: Seven types of soils and sub-soils, clay and limestone
Harvest: Hand-harvested
Harvest Dates: September 27th to October 24th, 2018
Yield: 45 hl/ha
Sorting: Three sortings (one by density) performed by Tribaie machine

Vineyard Notes
Natural grass is grown between the rows. Organic fertilizers were utilized. Winter seedlings. Integrated control methods using biocontrol products. De-budding and green harvesting with manual one-sided de-leafing.

Winemaking Details
Types of Vats: Stainless steel, 50 to 110 hectolitres
Vatting Time: 28 days
Vinification: Cold maceration, aging on lees
Aging: 100% new French oak barrels
Cooperage: Sourced from seven coopers, with wood from the most prestigious forests

Wine Details
Blend: Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon
Potential Alcohol: 14.50%
Consultant Oenologist: Jean Philippe Fort, Michel Rolland Laboratory
[Information provided by DHI Selections]

2018 Fleur Cardinale
Rating: 94+
Producer: Fleur Cardinale
Wine Region: France, Bordeaux, Saint-Emilion
Color / Type / Sweetness: Red / Table / Dry
Reviewed By: Lisa Perrotti-Brown
Drink Date: 2023 - 2040
Deep garnet-purple in color, the 2018 Fleur Cardinale - composed of 74% Merlot, 22% Cabernet Franc and 4% Cabernet Sauvignon - leaps from the glass with vibrant notes of wild blueberries, crushed blackberries and ripe, juicy plums, plus hints of sandalwood, unsmoked cigars, menthol and licorice. Medium to full-bodied, the palate is chock-full of ripe black and blue fruits, framed by velvety tannins and beautiful freshness, finishing long with lots of mineral and exotic spice layers. A very stylish Saint-Emilion!
Published: Apr 22, 2021

CHATEAU FLEUR CARDINALE ST.-EMILION 2018
Thursday, April 22, 2021
Country: France
Region: Bordeaux
Vintage: 2018
Score: 94
Blackcurrant, clove, walnut-husk, tobacco and pine-cone aromas. Dried flowers and mocha, too. It's medium-to full-bodied with firm, tight-grained tannins. Polished layers of dark fruit and wood notes with a long, chewy finish. Focused. Very fine. Try from 2025.

2018 Fleur Cardinale
Producer: Fleur Cardinale
Place of Origin: France, Saint Emilion Grand Cru Classe, Bordeaux
Color: Red
Rating: 94
Drinking Window: 2026 - 2038
From: Bordeaux 2018: Not Back in Black (Mar 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.
By: Antonio Galloni on March 2021

2018 Chateau Fleur Cardinale
Producer: Chateau Fleur Cardinale
Location: France, Bordeaux, Saint-Emilion
Color: Red
Rating: 94
Tasting Date: 3/11/2021
Maturity: 2025 - 2045
Reviewed By: Jeb Dunnuck
Source: 2018 Bordeaux From The Bottle
The Grand Vin 2018 Chateau Fleur Cardinale checks in as a mix of 74% Merlot, 22% Cabernet Franc, and the rest Cabernet Sauvignon brought up in new French oak. It has integrated its oak elevage beautifully and while it has a kiss of modern character and polish, it still has loads of classic Saint-Emilion character, as well as minerality. Deep ruby/plum hued with a gorgeous bouquet of black cherries, white truffles, camphor, lead pencil, and exotic spices, it hits the palate with full-bodied richness, a beautifully balanced, layered texture, building, firm tannins, and a great finish. It's certainly in the same class as the 2015 and 2016, but the cellar is going to be your friend. Hide bottles for at least 4-6 years and it should cruise for 20 years or more.

2018 Chateau Fleur Cardinale (St. Emilion Grand Cru)
Points: 94
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 [...] Merlot, [...] Cabernet Franc and [...] Cabernet Sauvignon.
Tasted Mar 9, 2021

Chateau Fleur Cardinale, St-Emilion, Grand Cru Classe, 2018
Tasted By: Jane Anson (at Bordeaux, 09 Nov 2020)
Part of Top St-Emilion 2018 wines: Re-tasted in bottle
Points: 94
Drinking Window: 2025 - 2045
Producer: Chateau Fleur Cardinale
Vintage: 2018
Wine Type: Still
Colour: Red
Country: France
Region: Bordeaux
Sweetness: Dry
Closure: Cork
Body: Full
Oak: Oaked
Grapes: [...] Cabernet Franc, [...] Cabernet Sauvignon, 74% Merlot
An estate that is just doing such good work right now. This was delicious en primeur and for me a little better in bottle. Has that slow slate-textured finish that makes things inch along slowly, giving time to appreciate the rich berry fruits and floral edge to the aromatics. An interesting initiative in the packaging also, with a wooden cask that has instructions for being turned into a bird box afterwards, encouraging recycling. A yield of 45l/ha. 100% new oak.

Chateau Fleur Cardinale 2018 Saint-Emilion
From: Saint-Emilion, Bordeaux, France
Rating: 93
Winery: Chateau Fleur Cardinale
Region: Bordeaux
Alcohol: 14.50%
Variety: Bordeaux-style Red Blend
Wine Type: Red
Publication Date: 4/1/2021
The Decoster family, formerly producers of porcelain in Limoges, have given this estate considerable luster. This latest release shows a solid character, powered by dark tannins, hints of licorice and rich fruit. Cabernet Franc aromas shine through the jammy Merlot. Drink from 2025.
Reviewed By: Roger Voss

Chateau Fleur Cardinale St.-Emilion 2018
Score: 93
Wine Type and Color: Red Still
Reviewed By: James Molesworth
Drinkability: Drink now through 2034
Issue: Mar 31, 2021
Primary Grape: Merlot
Other Grapes: Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon
Region: France / Bordeaux / St.-Emilion
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.

Ch Fleur Cardinale 2018 St-Emilion
Producer: Ch Fleur Cardinale
Region: Bordeaux
Country: France
Colour: Red
Alcohol: 14.50%
Score: 16.5+/20
When to Drink: 2025 - 2042
Published On: 3 Feb 2021
Date Tasted: 23 Jan 2021
Reviewer: Jancis Robinson
74% Merlot, 22% Cabernet Franc, 4% Cabernet Sauvignon. Picked from 27 September to 24 October with a yield of 45 hl/ha. [...]. Aged [...] in all-new barrels, like its sister wine Ch Croix Cardinale.
Deep and luscious dark crimson. Much less expressive nose at this point than the Croix Cardinale but ripe and round on the palate until it all tightens up on the finish with its ambitious tannic charge. Definitely not for now but it should make pretty delicious, quite savoury (not sweet) old bones. Quite persistent (not a quality I have remarked on for many of these Grand Cercle 2018s). Crisp and well defined.