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

Château Croix Cardinale 2019 - Château Fleur Cardinale
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Château Croix Cardinale 2019

#Gourmet #Purity

Verre de Château Croix Cardinale - © C. Decoster, Château Fleur Cardinale

Identity

Blend:

  • 82% Merlot
  • 18% Cabernet Franc

Alcoholic degree: 13,5°

Une feuille par transparence - © C. Decoster, Château Fleur Cardinale

Weather conditions

The year 2019 has been a year of extremes. At the beginning of May we lost 1.5 hectares due to the frost. Then the following weeks were very dry and the temperatures very high.

Finally, the rainfall in July and August was satisfying and will allow the grapes to reach maturity at the end of September.

Vendanges au Château Croix Cardinale - © C. Decoster, Château Fleur Cardinale

Harvest

  • 10 and 11 October 2019
  • Yields: 38 hl/ha
  • Production: 18 000 bottles
Collection de carafes au Château Fleur Cardinale - © M. Johnson

Tasting suggestions

  • Optimal tasting period: 2022 – 2035.
  • Today: to be kept in the cellar.
  • Serving temperature : 17-18°C.
Hashtag Croix Cardinale - © C. Decoster, Château Fleur Cardinale

HASHTAGS

#Gourmet #Purity

Château Croix Cardinale en musique - © C. Decoster, Château Fleur Cardinale

Soundtrack

Enjoy a glass of Château Croix Cardinale 2019 while listening to the tune Metronomy by The Look.

Reviews for this vintage

ANTHOCYANES, YOHAN CASTAING

89-91
Fruits noirs, un peu cacao, une puissance aromatique due à une macération pré-fermentaire à froid. Rond, juteux, des tanins structurants et encore un peu ferme. Un potentiel plaisir indéniable, très prometteur. 75 % de merlot et 25 % de cabernet franc. June 2020

B MY BORDEAUX, CHRISTER BYKLUM

88-90
Ruby. Blackberries and anise, blueberries and spices nose, scented. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, anise, dark fruity, blueberries and spices, elegant texture, good length. June 2020

91
Ruby. Blackberries, dark fruits, liquorice and spices, nose, fruit driven. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, dark fruits, liquorice, intense, blackberries, long finish. November 2022

DECANTER, JANE ANSON

90
Easy fruit, tannins feel relaxed and well worked even at this early stage. This is not as slick as the first wine but it is unfussy, no need to wait too long, and impressively put together. A good approachable St Emilion that I tasted twice and was impressed by both times. June 2020

FALSTAFF

92
Dunkles Rubingranat, opaker Kern, violette Reflexe, dezente Randaufhellung. Feine Edelholznuancen, zart nach Bergamotte, schwarze Beerenfrucht, floraler Touch. Saftig, süße Textur, elegant, feine Herzkirschenfrucht, integrierte Tannine, mineralisch, etwas Nougat, gute Länge, ein vielseitiger Speisenbegleiter. Dark ruby garnet, opaque core, violet reflections, discreet rim brightening. Fine noble wood nuances, delicate bergamot, black berry fruit, floral touch. Juicy, sweet texture, elegant, fine heart cherry fruit, integrated tannins, mineral, some nougat, good length, a versatile food companion. June 2020

FORBES, TOM MULLEN

94-95
Fresh light red fruit and some butter and almond aromas. Delicious, fresh and well balanced with juicy acidity and flavors that include apricots, raspberries, figs, plumbs and toast. March 2022

GREAT BORDEAUX WINES, IZAK LITWAR

90-91
4 ha on clay, 75% Merlot + 25% Cabernet Franc. It's a neighbour to Fleur Cardinale and Decoster family owns both. Well-defined on the nose and palate, spicy and fragrant raspberries, nice structure silky texture and nice fruity finish. June 2020

JANE ANSON

90
A little austere right now, with angular tannins that still need a few years to soften. Good tension and balance through the palate as it opens up, this is well made, with a clear sense of pace through the palate and carefully crafted blackberry, blackcurrant and redcurrant fruits. A separate estate to Fleur Cardinale, on slightly cooler soils, made by the same team and showing the same detail-orientated approach to winemaking. October 2021

JAMES SUCKLING

92-93
This is a steely and direct red with tile, blackberry and stone character. It’s racy and intense. Medium to full body. Almost rusty undertone. May 2020

JEB DUNNUCK

90-92
The 2019 Château Croix Cardinale comes from vines just beside Fleur Cardinale, and the estate itself was purchase by Dominique and Florence Decoster, the owners of Fleur Cardinale, in 2012. Complex notes of blackcurrants, iron, tobacco, and spice box all emerge from the glass, and it's a concentrated, medium to full-bodied Saint-Emilion with ripe tannin, good mid-palate density, and a great finish. It's going to keep for 15 years or more. Tasted twice. June 2020

JEB DUNNUCK

91
The 2019 Château Croix Cardinale is solid, with good ripeness levels in its candied cherry, currant, tobacco, iron, and chocolate-driven aromatics. These carry to a medium to full-bodied Saint-Emilion that has notable purity, ripe yet present tannins, good balance, and a great finish. April 2022

LIVETS GODA

93
Stram och närmast järnig pa samma gang som det förför sinnema med sin eleganta och blommiga framtoning och sensuellt mörka fruktighet. Samma ägare som Fleur Cardinale och dessutom angränsande vinmarker där merlot dominerar. July 2020 Tight and almost ironic at the same time as it seduces the senses with its elegant and floral appearance and sensually dark fruitiness. The same owner as Fleur Cardinale and also adjacent vineyards where merlot dominates.

MARKUS DEL MONEGO, MW

91
Dark purple red with violet hue and black core. Elegant nose with ripe fruit, e.g. plums, black cherries and blackberries. Elegant toasting aroma in the background reminiscent of chocolate and coffee. On the palate well structured with firm tannins, sweet fruit, discreet spiciness and good length. June 2020

PERSWIJN

***(*)
Geur: intens, kruiden, peperig Smaak: dik en warm, ook wat groen Smell: intense, spicy, peppery Taste: thick and warm, also some green June 2020

SCHWEIZERISCHE WEINZEITUNG, HANS MARTIN GESELLMANN

17
Kräftiges Bouquet, Johannisbeeren, Wildkirschen, schwarze Oliven, zart Kakao. Dicht, saftig, süss adstringierend, gut stützende Säure, viel Kirsch, Himbeeren, zart rotes Cassis im Finish, gute Länge. Strong bouquet, blackcurrants, wild cherries, black olives, delicate cocoa. Dense, juicy, sweetly astringent, well supporting acidity, lots of cherry, raspberries, delicate red cassis in the finish, good length. June 2020

THE WINE ADVOCATE, LISA PERROTTI-BROWN

90-92
Deep garnet-purple colored, the 2019 Croix Cardinale needs a little coaxing to begin, opening out to offer notes of plum preserves, black raspberries, tar and fragrant earth with nuances of smoked meats and pencil lead. Medium to full-bodied, the palate has impressive freshness with a solid backbone of rounded tannins and delicately played black fruit layers, finishing earthy. June 2020

THE WINE CELLAR INSIDER, JEFF LEVE

90-92
Dark in color, with a kick of smoke, licorice and chocolate-covered black cherries on the nose, the wine is soft, round, fruity, sweet, plummy and forward. You can enjoy this on release. June 2020

THE WINE CELLAR INSIDER, JEFF LEVE

91
Licorice, coffee, chocolate, black cherries and a tiny hint of fig open the nose. The wine is round, lush and polished with a wave of black cherries, plums and espresso in the finish. This is already nice in your glass. Mars 2022

THE WINE DOCTOR, CHRIS KISSACK

90-92
This is the second wine of Fleur-Cardinale, and in this vintage it is a blend of 75% Merlot and 25% Cabernet Franc, picked on October 10th and 11th. The yield was just 38 hl/ha, and the declared alcohol is 14.5%. A glossy dark hue in the glass, with a dark mulberry core, and a crimson-raspberry rim. A very attractive nose, with plenty of fruit showing, a dark and lightly dried concentration filled with dried black cherry, currants and a sooty overlay. A very correct palate, typical of the vintage, showing a supple and seamless presence of dark fruits, but underneath is that very energetic structure that seems to run through the whole of the region this year. A really charming second wine, concentrated and fresh, but with sinewy substance and dark, intriguing, chocolate-tinged fruits. June 2020

VERT DE VIN, JONATHAN CHOUKROUN CHICHEPORTICHE

16
Le nez est fruité, juteux, bien mené et offre une petite concentration/puissance. On y retrouve des notes de cassis mûr, de fraise mûre et plus légèrement de mûre de boysen associées à de petites touches de fruits bleus, à une touche de violette/lilas ainsi qu’à des pointes de petites baies, de réglisse et d'épices douces. La bouche est fruitée, équilibrée et offre une trame juteuse/minérale, de la tension, une jolie précision ainsi qu'un grain fin. En bouche ce vin exprime des notes de framboise, de mure juteuse et plus légèrement de cerise associées à une touche de fraise juteuse, de prune juteuse ainsi qu’à de très fines pointes de violette/bleuet et de cacao. Les tannins sont fins et élégants. June 2020

VERT DE VIN, JONATHAN CHOUKROUN CHICHEPORTICHE

91
The nose is fruity and offers power, good definition, freshness as well as a certain depth. It reveals notes of juicy cassis, ripe wild red berries and, more lightly, lily, lilac associated with fine hints of licorice as well as discreet hints of sweet spices. The palate is fruity, balanced, salivating and offers gourmandize, juiciness, salinity, a stretched side, tension as well as a fine tangy frame. On the palate this wine expresses notes of juicy / tangy cassis, tangy blackberry and more slightly raspberry associated with touches of juicy berry fruits as well as hints of tonka bean. Precise and finely mellow tannins. More structure and power than in the Cuvée Intuition. January 2022

VINOUS, ANTONIO GALLONI

89-91
Bright red-toned fruits and floral, cedary overtones give the 2019 Croix Cardinale terrific freshness and verve. This mid-weight Saint-Émilion has plenty to offer. I would prefer to drink it on the young side, while the fruit is still vibrant. Tasted two times. June 2020

VINOUS, NEAL MARTIN

89-91
The 2019 Croix Cardinale offers intense red and black fruit on the nose with light marine/seaweed scents tucked in just behind. The palate is medium-bodied with lithe tannins that lend the wine a very silky texture. Good acidity, rather structured on the finish, although it does not quite "kick on" towards the finish. It may merit a higher score once in bottle. June 2020

WINE ENTHUSIAST, ROGER VOSS

91
A ripe and smoothly delicious wine, this wood-aged wine is finely balanced. Its black fruits are fully integrated with the spice and the velvet texture. Drink the wine from 2024. September 2022

WINE SPECTATOR, JAMES MOLESWORTH

92
Rich in texture, this glides through suavely, with crushed plum, warmed cassis, humus, black tea and singed alder notes all seamlessly layered together. Ends with a late mineral twinge, which adds a nice hint of needed energy. Merlot and Cabernet Franc. January2022

YVES BECK

90-91
Pourpre violacé. Bouquet filigrane, subtil, aux notes de baies noires et d’épices. Agréable touche confite. En bouche le vin est soyeux, élégant et bien soutenu par sa structure. Ses tannins sont parfaitement intégrés et octroient une certaine densité. Agréable fraîcheur en fin de bouche suivie d’une finale fruitée. Un vin gourmand que l’on pourra déjà savourer dans sa jeunesse. May 2020