By Chateau Fleur Cardinale
Saint-Emilion Grand Cru Classe 2015

Vineyard Details
Surface Area: 23.50 hectares
Plant Density: 6,000 vines/ha
Average Vine Age: 35 years old
Soils: Clay and Limestone, seven different types of soils
Vineyard Management: Natural grass growing between the rows, de-leafing, de-budding
Yield Before Selection: 37.00 hl/ha
Harvesting: 100% by hand
Dates of Harvest: October 5th to 20th, 2015

Vintage
Flowering was rapid and even everywhere. Veraison was even. From June to September, summer was hot, followed by an extraordinary Indian summer until the end of October. At the right time, there were some light showers between the hot days, which maintained the ripening process. We didn't let the grass in the rows grow too high, avoiding competition with the vines and not weakening them, primarily because of the recurring periods of high temperatures during the summer. Clay and limestone soils on the plateau of Saint-Etienne-de-Lisse prevented hydric stress, allowing wonderful things to emerge. As a result, the berries were normal-sized, with a perfect balance between the skin, juice, and phenolic maturity. The plots of Cabernet Franc were more productive than in other years, and the final blend integrates more of this grape variety, lending finesse and elegance to the wine.

Vinification Details
Consultant Oenologist: Jean-Philippe Fort from the Rolland Laboratory
Blend: 75% Merlot, 20% Cabernet Franc, 5% Cabernet Sauvignon
Process: Cold maceration, lees aging
Vatting: 30-35 days in 26 stainless steel vats of 50-110 hl volume
Aging: In 100% new French oak barrels
Cooperate: From 2015, we adopted Burgundy toast for all our barrels produced exclusively from the highest-quality wood from Jupilles, Bertranges, and Troncais. The Burgundy toast is realized at moderately high heat and for an extended period.
[Information provided by DHI Selections]

Wine: Chateau Fleur-Cardinale St.-Emilion 2015
Score/Rating: 96
Suggested Drinking Window: Try from 2022
Review Date: 01/22/2018
Reviewed By: James Suckling
Tasting Notes: Super rich baking spices across ripe dark plums in a very suave and attractively styled nose. The palate has incredible depth and succulently seductive, fleshy plum flavors. Wow. Try from 2022.

Wine: 2015 Chateau Fleur Cardinale
Score/Rating: 94
Suggested Drinking Window: 2018 - 2033
Review Date: 11/30/2017
Reviewed By: Jeb Dunnuck
Tasting Notes: The 2015 Chateau Fleur Cardinale is [a] beauty in the vintage and checks in as a blend of 75% Merlot, 20% Cabernet Franc and 5% Cabernet Sauvignon brought up all in new oak. Offering sensational notes of black cherries and currant fruits, toasty oak, graphite, and licorice, it's medium to full-bodied, concentrated, and gorgeously pure and elegant on the palate. It has fine tannin emerging on the finish and is made in a straight, structured, classic style. Give bottles a year to two and it should drink beautifully over the following 15+. [...] It has the purity of fruit that's the hallmark of the vintage and is a gem readers should seek out. This wine is an exclusive of American Jeffrey Davies.

Wine: 2015 Chateau Fleur Cardinale (St. Emilion Grand Cru)
Score/Rating: 94
Review Date: 07/12/2017
Reviewed By: Jeff Leve
Tasting Notes: Is there a better wine for the money in St. Emilion today? I don't think so! This sexy little beast is loaded with juicy dark fruits, chocolate, licorice, espresso and plums. This should offer pleasure early and age for years as well.

Wine: CHATEAU FLEUR CARDINALE Saint-Emilion Grand Cru 2015
Score/Rating: 93
Suggested Drinking Window: 2019 - 2036
Review Date: 07/2018
Reviewed By: J. D'Angelo
Tasting Notes: This outstanding Saint-Emilion instantly opens with alluring aromas of ripe dark cherries, roasted plums and blueberries which all woven together with sweet spices, spring florals and earthy characteristics notes all coming together in the glass. On the palate this full-bodied red is well-balanced, and displays excellent concentration and depth with a wonderful plush texture. This continues to impress with a lovely mix of spices, ripe dark fruits and even developing mocha notes which linger on the long supple finish. Overall, this is an outstanding wine, and as always its modest price of admission makes even more appealing to seek out. 75% Merlot, 20% Cabernet Franc and 5% Cabernet Sauvignon.

Wine: Chateau Fleur Cardinale St.-Emilion 2015
Score/Rating: 93
Suggested Drinking Window: Drink now through 2032
Review Date: 03/31/2018
Reviewed By: James Molesworth
Tasting Notes: Delicious dark fig and boysenberry confiture flavors run from start to finish here, with a graphite spine embedded along the way. Flashes of anise, tar and singed mesquite add range. Not shy, but has the cut to pull it off. Best from 2022 through 2032.

Wine: 2015 Fleur Cardinale
Score/Rating: 93
Suggested Drinking Window: 2020 - 2030
Review Date: 12/2017
Reviewed By: Antonio Galloni
Tasting Notes: The 2015 Fleur Cardinale is terrific. Exotic and flamboyantly ripe, it exudes richness and depth in all of its dimensions. Blackberry jam, grilled herbs, mocha, leather and menthol are all amped up in a dramatic, full-bodied wine that is long on personality. As always, Fleur Cardinale shows the more opulent side of Saint-Emilion. A burst of red cherry jam, spice, new leather, spice, lavender and French oak punctuates the unctuous finish. Tasted three times.

Wine: 2015 Fleur Cardinale
Score/Rating: 92
Suggested Drinking Window: 2018 - 2035
Review Date: 02/21/2018
Reviewed By: Lisa Perrotti-Brown
Tasting Notes: The 2015 Fleur Cardinale is a blend of 75% Merlot, 20% Cabernet Franc and 5% Cabernet Sauvignon matured in 100% new oak barrels for 13 months. Deep garnet-purple in color, it has a nose of fragrant violets, cedar chest and rose hips over a core of chocolate-covered cherries, plum preserves and blueberry pie. The medium to full-bodied palate is rich and plush with plenty of layers and great length.

Wine: Chateau Fleur-Cardinale, St-Emilion, Bordeaux, France, 2015
Score/Rating: 91
Suggested Drinking Window: 2024 - 2050
Review Date: 09/30/2024
Reviewed By: Gareth Birchley, Vincenzo Arnese, Arthur Coggill
Tasting Notes: Slightly oxidative with underlying red and blue fruits. Good texture and ripe tannins lead to a textured, rich finish with intense dark chocolate notes.

Wine: Ch Fleur Cardinale 2015 St-Emilion
Score/Rating: 16/20
Suggested Drinking Window: 2024 - 2040
Review Date: 06/27/2019
Reviewed By: Jancis Robinson
Tasting Notes: Richer and riper on the nose than the 2016. More opulent and sweeter. Lots of ripe fruit on a tannic undertow but not as subtle as the 2016.