Fleur Cardinale blanc 2023

Fleur Cardinale blanc is the new white wine from the D. Decoster family, produced on a small parcel of land that has the particularity of being enclosed within the red vines of Château Fleur Cardinale. A great terroir-driven white wine designed for ageing, expressing the freshness of its clay-limestone north-facing slope.

Vineyards

Surface area: 2.4 hectares in production
Soil: deep clay / northern slopes of the Saint-Etienne-de-Lisse limestone plateau
Grape varieties: ~ 40% Sauvignon blanc, ~ 30% Sauvignon gris, ~ 30% Sémillon
Third year of conversion to organic farming

Technical sheet

2023 potential blend: 57% Sauvignon Blanc, 43% Sauvignon Gris
Potential degree: 12.8% vol.
Potential pH: 3.1

Fleur Cardinale Blanc (Bordeaux): 3,500 potential bottles
Intuition de Fleur Cardinale Blanc (Bordeaux): 9,000 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: 25 August- 12 September 2023
Yield: 42 hL / ha

Vinification and ageing

We press the bunches whole to preserve their unique aromas, then vinify them in 20 hl stainless steel barrels and vats, which are monitored to ensure optimum quality.

For Fleur Cardinale Blanc, the wine is aged on its lees for 8 to 9 months, with stirring of the lees.

Tasting comment

Starting discreetly with notes of graphite and citrus, Fleur Cardinale Blanc 2023 fully opens on orange blossom, pollen and grapefruit peel. The attack on the palate is frank and fresh, followed by a mid-palate mixing tension and sweetness. The finish is salivating and persistent, with aromas of apricot, lemon and delicate fern.