Ch. Croix Cardinale 2023

Château Croix Cardinale is the new confidential Grand Cru wine from the D. Decoster family. It is an atypical Saint-Emilion Grand Cru, due to its blend of predominantly Cabernet grapes on a limestone south-facing slope. A rare pearl designed for ageing, embodying the future of wines from its appellation.

Vineyards

Surface area: 4.26 hectares in production
Soil: clay-limestone/ southern slopes of the Saint-Etienne-de-Lisse limestone plateau
Grape varieties: ~ 30% Cabernet Franc / ~ 30% Cabernet Sauvignon / ~ 40% Merlot
Third year of conversion to organic farming

Technical sheet

2023 potential blend: 52% Cabernet Franc, 41% Merlot, 7% Cabernet Sauvignon
Potential degree: 14% vol.
Potential pH: 3.5

Château Croix Cardinale (Saint-Emilion Grand Cru Classé): 5,500 potential bottles
Révélation de Croix Cardinale (Saint-Emilion Grand Cru): 3,500 potential bottles

Climatology of the vintage

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 conditions

The end of the summer was favourable to the ripening of the grapes, with drier, sunnier weather and a significant contrast in daytime and night-time temperatures. The aromas developed and the tannins refined. As the harvest approached, we paid particular attention to the ripening of the grapes.

Harvest dates: 21 September – 29 September 2023
Yield: 15 hL / ha

Vinification and ageing

Full vinification takes place in three 500-litre barrels. Aromas are mainly extracted by pumping over.

Château Croix Cardinale is expected to age for 13 months.
37% demi-muids
28% new French oak barrels
16% one-year oak barrels
19% in amphorae TAVA of 7.5 L

Tasting comment

Château Croix Cardinale 2023 is a racy wine with an initial nose of grilled almonds, graphite and crème de cassis, delicately enhanced by subtle notes of rhubarb. The palate is caressing, its enveloping tannins highlighted by a fresh balance and aromatic cherry fruit. The finish is a triumph of strawberry coulis and black olives.