Château Fleur Cardinale Saint-Émilion Grand Cru Classé 2021 i trækasse

Bernard Burtschy

The wine has a very dark color with beautiful aromas of blueberry, spices, and leather. It is dense with a lovely silkiness and an impressive depth; the tannins are fine, and the whole is remarkably long with a delightful freshness thanks to the Cabernet grown on limestone soil. Mildew caused a 30% loss (yield of 21 hl/ha). A remarkable success.

Terre de Vins

A pure and ripe nose, with controlled and balanced density. This graceful and complex 2021 exudes distinction and elegance. Built on a framework of iron and silk, it is both firm and velvety, offering a very complete aromatic palette, ranging from red fruit to floral notes, with hints of sage and elderberry. The length is a bonus, accompanied by an appetizing and mouthwatering texture. A true success of the vintage.

Tastingbook.com

Vert de Vin Magazine

The nose is fruity, fresh, complex and reveals nice concentration of freshness/finesse, a certain intensity of finesse/delicacy/freshness. There are notes of fresh cherry, violet and, to a lesser extent, bright blackcurrant, combined with hints of fresh saffron, lilac and graphite, as well as fine hints of balsamic, a very discreet touch of timut pepper, vanilla and toast. The palate is fruity, balanced and reveals freshness, a nice acidic structure, minerality, a nice definition, elegance, some volume, a nice work of bitters, lightness in the sense of delicacy/subtlety. On the palate this wine expresses notes of fresh/crisp blackcurrant, pulpy/acidic blackberry and more lightly small red berry, crunchy cherry combined with hints of tonka bean, lilac, fine hints of tobacco as well as a subtle hint of cardamom, a very discreet hint of cocoa bitterness, toasted/roasted almond, roasted/charcoal (in the background).

Forbes

A 70/20/10 blend of Merlot/Cabernet Franc/Cabernet Sauvignon that ages up to 14 months in new French oak. Creamy aromas that include brownies, licorice, red cherries and black berries. A distinguished wine with firm and supple tannins, glowing acidity and a midpalate of red fruit that includes cranberries. Pair with roasted duck breast or a Moroccan tajin.

Decanter

Intensely perfumed on the nose, so expressive and aromatic with dark chocolate and blackcurrant liqueur aspects. Juicy, fresh, playful, lifted and upfront - this has a lot going on. It's lightly framed with a lifted nature on the palate, the flavours all vertical and expansive but not heavy. It's a delicate style in terms of structure but the flavours are persistent and really fill the mouth with a brightness as well as minty, chocolate, liquorice fresh tannins. I love this one - a real success of the vintage. Usually 70-75% Merlot, so this is a new Fleur Cardinale, the' kind of blend we'd like to have in the future' says Ludovic and Caroline Decoster, with increased plantings of Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon taking place at the estate. Consultants Jean Philippe Fort - Michel Rolland Laboratoire. First year of conversion to organic, 2021 saw a loss of 50% production - 20% to frost and 30% to mildew. A fine effort.

Antonio Galloni

The 2021 Fleur Cardinale rushes from the glass with a nose of dark cherry, plum, chocolate, mocha, licorice, new leather and black tea. Plump and juicy, with tons of forward appeal, the 2021 has been quite showy in two tastings. It's a gorgeous, impeccably balanced wine from this Saint-Émilion property.

La Revue Vinicole Internationale

An elegant wine, with freshness, well-balanced, featuring notes of ripe fruits.

Markus del Monego MW

James Suckling

A refined and linear wine with blackberry and blueberry aromas and flavors. Medium-bodied with fine tannins and a racy finish. Classy.

Bettane & Desseauve

Izak Litwar, Great Bordeaux Wines

Jeb Dunnuck

Tons of chalky minerality, darker red and black fruits, leather, and graphite notes emerge from the 2021 Château Fleur Cardinale, a gorgeously textured, medium to full-bodied, elegant Saint-Emilion that has beautiful tannins, a layered, balanced mouthfeel, and great finish. While I love it today, this incredibly well-balanced, elegant, yet concentrated 2021 will evolve and drink well for upwards of two decades.

Jeff Leve, The Wine Cellar Insider

Deeply colored, lush, round, opulent, and concentrated for the vintage, you find spicy, floral, black cherries, touches of chocolate, licorice, espresso and a hint of spice. Silky in the mouth, fresh and fruity, the finish is soft, supple and polished. The blend is 60% Merlot, 30% Cabernet Franc and 10% Cabernet Sauvignon. All that extra Cabernet really makes a difference adding more freshness, complexity and individuality. I hope they continue using more Cabernet here in future vintages. The harvest took place October 1 - 12. This is the first vintage from 100% organic farming.

Alexandre Ma

The bottled Château Fleur Cardinale 2021 surpassed my expectations. It possesses a richness and structure rarely seen in cooler vintages, with flavors of dried black plums, blueberry puree, licorice spices, and a maturity approaching graphite. In my view, Château Fleur Cardinale triumphed in 2021 for several reasons: its late-ripening vineyards perfectly avoided the early harvest rains; the winemaker’s meticulous grape selection; and the “integral fermentation” contributing to an ideal richness. To me, it is one of the few estates that manage to reach the quality of 2020.

Tim Atkin

Super-saturated black fruit aromas. Sweet mocha oak notes. Rich and inviting. In the mouth this is dense and yet fresh with very ripe and concentrated black and red fruits, but a fresh acidity and not overhanging tannins. Some creaminess of texture on the palate and a dense multi-layered finish. Very good.

Wine Enthusiast

After 12 months in wood, the wine has a fine spicy edge. That balances the rich black fruits with their floral character. This is a ripe wine that has plenty of potential.