In 2024, Château Fleur Cardinale and Château Croix Cardinale were brought together under the name La Maison Cardinale

Château Fleur Cardinale 2023 - Château Fleur Cardinale
En entrant sur ce site, je certifie avoir l’âge légal requis par la législation sur l’alcool dans mon pays de résidence.
You must be of legal drinking age in your country to access this site.

Château Fleur Cardinale 2023

IDENTITY

Potential blend:

  • 56% Merlot
  • 37% Cabernet Franc
  • 7% Cabernet Sauvignon

Potential alcoholic strength: 14.5°

CLIMATOLOGY

The winter of 2023 saw a period of cool weeks, with little rain from mid-January onwards. The buds gently burst at the end of March without any real fear of the frost, which was short and early. In spring, the vines exploded into life. Warmth, rain and mild nights gave way to magnificient flowering and wild growth, creating the right conditions for the plant kingdom to express itself (including fungi). The weather conditions at the beginning of the summer allowed good vegetative growth of the berries.

HARVEST

  • From 19 September to 4 October 2023
  • Yield: 15 hL/ha
  • Estimated production: 40,000 bottles

TASTING SUGGESTIONS

The wine is still in barrel and will tell us more in the months to come…

PERSONALITY CHARACTERISTICS

The 2023 vintage is synonymous of:

  • Depth
  • Delicacy

SOUNDTRACK

The wine is still in barrel but it already reminds us of the song Universally Speaking – Red Hot Chili Peppers.

Reviews for this vintage

ALEXANDRE MA

93-94
Château Fleur Cardinale, with its meticulous selection process bordering on obsession, presents us with perfection in ripeness (average yield: 15hl/ha). Deep blueberries, mulberries; delicate cloves, allspice; rich hazelnuts, and mocha, all meld together in a sweet embrace. The wine exhibits a solid, robust body, with rich and velvety tannins that belie its seemingly intense texture, infused with a subtle finesse, led by the 37% contribution of Merlot. Château Fleur Cardinale, having endured trials and tribulations, stages a remarkable “comeback” in the 2023 vintage, showcasing the indomitable spirit of Bordeaux.

BETTANE & DESSAUVE

93-94
Il séduit par le soyeux de sa texture, l'intensité de sa sève et son onctuosité. Le tannin profond est de mieux en mieux affiné. Finale de belle droiture. Coup de cœur.

CHRISTER BYKLUM

93-95
Ruby. Blackberries, anise, cassis, spices, dark fruits notes nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, juicy, red and dark fruits, energetic, detailed and long.

DECANTER, PANOS KAKAVIATOS

93
Crafted from grapes picked between this lovely Grand Cru Classé, ageing 13 months in 45% new oak exudes ripe plum and red berry fruit aromas and flavours, with darker fruit and liquorice on the juicy palate, marked by smooth tannins furthermore reflecting the potential positive energy of the vintage, as the wine has vivaciousness, leading to a medium finish with lift.

FALSTAFF, PETER MOSER

94
Deep dark ruby, opaque core, purple reflections. Ripe cherries, hints of liquorice, ripe plums, a hint of candied orange zest, inviting bouquet. Juicy, ripe fruit, elegant texture, ripe tannins, subtle nougat, mineral and persistent, salty finish, good ageing potential.

JAMES SUCKLING

94-95
Excellent depth of fruit, with tension, focus and precision. Medium to full body. Dense center-palate and a creamy-textured finish. Ripe, fine tannins. April 2024

JANE ANSON

93
« Vibrant plum colour, this is a silky with sweet damson fruit, showing a real sense of personality and lift, beautifully measured progression through the palate, this has cocoa bean, liquorice, black tea, pomegranate, a ton of energy and concentration, well judged grilled oak. 3.6ph. 45% new oak, plus amphoras, foudres, demi muids, 15 hl/h yield, so extremely low, making the skilful assembly of the wine even more impressive. Decoster family.”

JEAN-MARC QUARIN

94
Couleur noire et pourpre. Nez intense, fin, fruité, pur, mûr et complexe. Touche de réglisse. Nuances fines de goudron. Ample à l'attaque, minutieux dans sa texture, le vin caresse le palais. Il évolue profond et subtil, sur une finale au gras fin. C'est long, très bon, bien enveloppé et difficile à cracher.

JEB DUNNUCK

92-94+
The Grand Vin 2023 Château Fleur Cardinale checks in as 56% Merlot, 37% Cabernet Franc, and the rest Cabernet Sauvignon that hit 14.5% alcohol and 3.6 pH, raised in 45% new French oak, with 15% in demi-muids, 10% in wooden vats, and 10% in amphora. It has a gorgeous, incredible limestone-driven bouquet of black raspberries, chalky minerality, flowers, and spicy nuances. This medium-bodied, concentrated, beautifully balanced Saint-Emilion has remarkable purity, fine, chalky tannins, the juicy, elegant style of the vintage, and outstanding length. It's a more focused, mineral-driven effort compared to its Croix Cardinale sibling.

LA REVUE DES VINS DE FRANCE

90-92
This has been carefully constructed from the fruit aromas to the suave, well-wrapped texture. Maybe a been too polished at this stage but it will surely please a wide audience.

MARKUS DEL MONEGO, MW

94
Dark purple colour with violet hue and almost black core. Fine aroma reminiscent of elegant toasting, coffee and mild spies, backed by ripe blackberries, mulberries and plums. Elegant spiciness and fine hints of dark chocolate. On the palate well structured with convincing lenght, full-bodied character with velvety tannins and ripe fruit.

OLIVIER BORNEUF

93

TERRE DE VINS

96-97
Le travail est plus que réussi pour cette troisième et dernière année en conversion bio avant la certification définitive. La multitude des contenants retenus pour l'élevage (bois neuf et un vin, demi-muid, foudre, amphore) offre un vin complexe et très texturé. Un équilibre parfait, de la densité bien articulée, des tanins de porcelaine, précis et une acidité délicate forment le voyage en bouche. Le nez est poudré avec de légères notes de griotte et un élevage délicat. Il propose vigueur, dynamisme, ainsi qu'un beau potentiel de garde.

THE WINE DOCTOR, CHRIS KISSACK

94-96
The aromatics feel pure and bright though, with sweet dark plum, violet cream, black pepper and liquorice. This is followed by a quite delicious palate, showing beautiful harmony, melding layers of dark fruit in a polished and elegant texture, with a fine lacelike frame of tannins, and fresh acidity. Truly excellent work here, one of the best in its category; I suspect the low yields brought extra concentration, which helps in this vintage. Tasted twice.

THE WINE INDEPENDENT, LISA PERROTTI-BROWN

93-95
Deep garnet-purple in color, the 2023 Fleur Cardinale bursts with bold notions of blackberry preserves and boysenberries followed by hints of star anise, black olives, and lilacs. The medium to full-bodied palate is filled with expressive black fruits and savory accents, framed by ripe, rounded tannins, finishing long and earthy.

VERT DE VIN, JONATHAN CHOUKROUN CHICHEPORTICHE

95-96
Joli nez fruité, tendu, poivré/épicé et qui offre une bonne définition, de la tension, un côté étiré, de la profondeur ainsi qu’un fin côté graphite. On y retrouve des notes de myrtille, de cassis dense et plus légèrement de fève tonka associées à de fines pointes de fraise rôtie-juteuse, de cerise Bigarreau ainsi qu’à de discrètes pointes de badiane, de lys et à une subtile pointe d’infusion. La bouche est joliment juteuse, fraiche, fruitée et offre de la minéralité, une bonne définition, de la justesse, de la densité en justesse/maitrise, une certaine tension, une jolie profondeur/noirceur en fraicheur, de la brillance, de l’éclat ainsi qu’un côté cristallin. En bouche ce vin exprime des notes de cassis juteux/pulpeux, de prune noire et plus légèrement de petites baies rouges pulpeuses associées à des touches de cerise Bigarreau ainsi qu’à des pointes de bleuet, de thé noir, de moka et à de fines pointes de toasté. Les tannins sont sapides, crayeux et gourmands. Un petit côté graphite/graphène en fin de bouche.

VINOUS, ANTONIO GALLONI

92-95
The 2023 Fleur Cardinale is gorgeous. Vivid, heady and explosive, the 2023 has a ton to offer. I especially admire its energy and overall drive. Black cherry, mocha, gravel, spice, chocolate and menthol all blossom in this explosive, full-throttle Saint-Émilion. Tasted two times.

VINUM, ADRIAN VAN VELSEN

94
Kühler im Ausdruck mit reifer Kirschfrucht, Brombeere und einer kalkigen Mineralik, wirkt frischer, tiefgründiger als in anderen Jahren; ungemein knackig, pudriges Tannin, elegant, zeigt Schliff, Präzision und Eleganz. Hervorragend!

YVES BECK

93-94
Le bouquet de Fleur Cardinale 2023 est de bonne intensité et se caractérise par des notes de sureau, des nuances de pivoine et une touche crayeuse. La maturation fonctionne subtilement en arrière-plan. Le vin est gourmand à l'attaque, soutenu par des tanins savoureux et une structure concise qui assure l'équilibre tout au long de la bouche. Un vin qui mérite non seulement d'être reconnu dans un contexte compliqué, mais aussi en route vers encore plus de justesse et d'authenticité ! 2027-2043

Fleur Cardinale vintages

Discover the Fleur Cardinale wine

You will like...

Surf Session Edition

Book your visit

Intergalactic Edition