Château Fleur Cardinale Surf Session Saint-Émilion 2019 - Grand Cru Classé (Magnum)

Bettane & Desseauve

About the estate:

Florence and Dominique Decoster, their son Ludovic, and his wife Caroline have developed a passion for this 23-hectare hillside estate near the town of Castillon. The wines have a rare generosity, even in average vintages, and have gained finesse in their tannin structure. It is one of Saint-Émilion's sure values, and the new winery is already delivering greater precision and purity. What progress has been made and what efforts have been made! This cru is on its way to the top.

Decanter

About wine:

Aromas of smoked coffee beans and ripe blackcurrants. The texture and flavor of this wine are excellent, full of herbs and black fruits with hints of licorice (mainly cherries). It is really well integrated so that no aspect stands out. The tannins are super fine and smooth. The acidity is well balanced, carrying the density of the fruit as well as the freshness. Without a doubt, this is a wine with impressive shoulders, power, and balance. Harmonious, charming, and elegant. A very complete wine that balances generous fruit, tannins, acidity, and mineral freshness. You can tell it has been excellently executed. It exudes a true sculpted and refined purity. A great wine, still as juicy and appealing at the finish. A first-rate purchase. Best enjoyed between 2027 and 2045.

Guide Hachette des vins

About the estate:

In 2001, Dominique and Florence Decoster acquired Ch. Fleur Cardinale, a 23.5-hectare estate located on one of the highest points of the AOC, east of Saint-Émilion. Their investments quickly bore fruit: the estate, which has been steadily improving, entered the "classified" circle in 2006, a classification that was confirmed in 2012. The property expanded by 4 hectares in 2011 with the purchase of the neighboring Croix Cardinale vineyard. Ludovic Decoster joined the property in 2015 and holds the position of operations manager.

RVF - La Revue du Vin de France / Guide des Meilleurs Vins de France

About the estate:

The Decoster family (originally from Limoges porcelain and Haviland) spares no effort in making this vintage one of the appellation's sure values. This beautiful estate, located in the eastern part of Saint-Émilion, north of Saint-Étienne-de-Lisse, benefits from generous clay soil, requiring patience to achieve a high level of maturity. The Fleur Cardinale vineyard is in the latest-ripening sector of the grands crus classés. Advised by Jean-Luc Thunevin, the estate produces wines with a modern, rich and flattering style, often bordering on over-ripeness. Expanded by 8 hectares with the 2012 classification, the property now covers 23.5 hectares. Of these 8 hectares from La Croix Cardinale (a brand still produced by the Decosters), 4 hectares are used for Fleur Cardinale's grand vin.

James Suckling

About wine:

Beautiful clarity of crushed red berries with dried flowers and sliced oyster mushrooms on the nose. Full-bodied, with layers of ripe tannins and juicy fruit. Chocolate and nutty character comes through, along with notes of vanilla pods. Magnificent.

Le Figaro vins

About wine:

The nose is quite discreet, fine and delicate, as if blushing discreetly. After a few aromas of elderflower, it opens up to a very fluid, clear and pure palate, with notes of black fruit, spices, cloves, and a very tender finish.

Terre de Vins

About wine:

With a subtle approach and a hint of oak, the surprise comes on the palate, which is full-bodied and flavorful. "A little gem," comments one taster, with a detailed structure, heady and opulent juice, quite sunny, with juicy red fruits. The whole is delicious, but also dense, with a very elegant tannic structure. You already want to come back to it. It is an accomplished, racy wine with good aging potential.

Vert de Vin

About wine:

The nose is refined and elegant, offering a lovely airy approach, controlled power, complexity, and a certain depth. There are notes of wild blackberry, camphor, and violet combined with hints of juicy/tart blue berries, blueberry/lily, as well as subtle hints of pepper and a subtle hint of spice. The palate is fruity, racy, elegant, balanced, subtle and delicate in its power and structure, offering juiciness, smoothness, a tangy texture, good definition, deliciousness and a lovely finesse of grain. On the palate, this wine expresses notes of juicy/pulpy blackcurrant, pulpy raspberry and, more subtly, blueberry, combined with hints of pulpy redcurrant and delicate touches of lily, plum, chocolate, caramelization and an imperceptible hint of sweet spices. The tannins are precise, powerful, polished, well-integrated and elegant.