2019 Fleur Cardinale, St-Émilion (Pre-Arrival)
SKU #1480665
95 points
James Suckling
Beautiful clarity of crushed red berries with dried flowers and sliced oyster mushrooms on the nose. Full-bodied with layers of ripe tannins and juicy fruit. Chocolate and walnut character comes through, together with hints of vanilla bean. Beautifully curated. Try after 2025.
(2/2022)
93-95 points
Jeb Dunnuck
Stunning stuff, the 2019 Château Fleur Cardinale might be the finest vintage of this wine I've tasted. Deep purple-hued, with awesome notes of ripe red and black currants, tobacco, chocolate, and spring flowers, it hits the palate with full-bodied richness, a plush, seamless texture, polished tannins, and a great finish. This is a killer 2019 that shows the class, balance, and purity of the vintage while backing it up with depth and richness.
(6/2020)
93-95 points
Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
Deep purple-black in color, the 2019 Fleur Cardinale exudes opulent scents of cinnamon stick, star anise, plum preserves and chocolate-covered cherries with a seducing undercurrent of lilacs, mulberries, allspice and black truffles. Medium to full-bodied, the palate is already tantalizingly delicious, revealing layer upon layer of black fruits, exotic spices and earthy sparks, finishing with great freshness and depth. (LPB)
(6/2020)
93-95 points
Vinous
The 2019 Fleur Cardinale is ripe, bold and luscious, with striking depth and resonance. Inky dark fruit, graphite, lavender, spice, menthol and blueberry jam all race out of the glass. Even with all of its obvious intensity, the 2019 has terrific freshness and vibrancy. (AG)
(6/2020)
94 points
Decanter
Always one of the bigger more powerful St Emilions, and this has plenty of estate signature. Excellent presence, it heads downwards, carving out a space for itself and settling in for the long haul. Clear oak character but not overdone, and has the glamour and sense of fun that I love about this property. Clear spice also, sage and rosemary alongside liquorice and black chocolate. Well handled, definitely a bigger-framed wine but delivered with confidence and appeal - you're going to want to try this. Tasted twice, three weeks apart. 100% new oak. A yield of 44hl/ha. Every case sold this year will see one tree planted, with the hope of planting 10,000 trees. (JA)
(5/2020)
K&L Notes
92-94 points Neal Martin for Vinous: "The 2019 Fleur Cardinale has a very composed bouquet, perhaps more so than its sibling, Croix Cardinale. It offers black cherries, black olive and light cassis aromas, all nicely integrated with the oak. The palate is medium-bodied with sappy black fruit mixed with graphite and cedar, almost Left Bank like towards the structured finish. Excellent." (06/2020)
