Château Fleur Cardinale Saint-Émilion 2022 - Grand Cru Classé

Bettane & Desseauve

About the wine:

Silky, full-bodied, and juicy tannins with a remarkable aftertaste and a lively finish that sweeps everything away in its path.

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 display a rare richness, even in average vintages, and have gained finesse in their tannic texture. It is one of Saint-Émilion’s most reliable choices, and the new winery is already yielding greater precision and purity. What remarkable progress and dedication! This estate is well on its way to the top.

Guide Hachette des vins

About the estate:

In 2001, Dominique and Florence Decoster acquired Château Fleur Cardinale, a 23.5-hectare estate located on one of the highest points of the AOC, east of Saint-Émilion. Their investments quickly paid off: the wine, which has shown steady improvement, joined the ranks of the “classified” wines in 2006, a status confirmed in 2012. The estate expanded by 4 hectares in 2011 with the acquisition of the neighboring Croix Cardinale vineyard. Ludovic Decoster joined the estate in 2015 and serves as operations manager.

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

About the estate:

The Decoster family (with roots in Limoges porcelain, Haviland) spares no effort to make this wine one of the appellation’s most reliable choices. This beautiful estate, located in the eastern part of Saint-Émilion, north of Saint-Étienne-de-Lisse, benefits from a rich clay terroir that requires patience to achieve a high level of ripeness. The Fleur Cardinale vineyard is located in the latest-ripening sector among the Grand Crus Classés. With guidance from Jean-Luc Thunevin, the estate produces wines with a modern, rich, and flattering style, often bordering on overripeness. Expanded by 8 ha following the 2012 classification, the estate now covers 23.5 ha. Of these 8 ha, which come from La Croix Cardinale (a brand the Decosters still produce), 4 ha are used to produce Fleur Cardinale’s flagship wine.

Vinous

About the wine:

The 2022 Fleur Cardinale is pure, unadulterated sensuality. Silky and beautifully structured, this medium-bodied Saint-Émilion is a true delight. Elegant tannins complement a fruit-forward core with deep notes. Lavender, espresso, licorice, dried herbs, and menthol unfold in a long, sustained finish. 2027–2042

James Suckling

About the wine:

Aroma of spiced cherries, cedar, white pepper, and black mushrooms. Medium-bodied on the palate, with ripe, dusty, and velvety tannins that are evenly distributed. Juicy, long, and full-bodied. Very well-balanced and already appealing; it will be at its best after 2026.

Jeb Dunnuck

About the wine:

This is a full-bodied and complex Saint-Émilion, offering aromas of black berries, graphite, crushed stone, and hints of truffle-infused earth. This ripe, perfectly balanced Saint-Émilion features moderate acidity, silky tannins, and a polished, harmonious texture. While its style is slightly modern, it remains rich, opulent, and captivating, combining depth and finesse. 2030–2060

Terre de Vins

About the wine:

Right from the nose, graphite and blueberry mingle with herbaceous notes. The attack is lively; the wine is precise and balanced, exhibiting restrained power paired with magnificent red fruit. It is a meticulously crafted, well-thought-out wine, handled with care, and featuring a beautifully briny finish.

Yves Beck

About the wine:

Fleur Cardinale reveals itself with maturity and freshness, thanks to notes of ripe black berries paired with hints of mint and a chalky touch. The creamy attack heralds a dense and harmonious wine. Its smooth tannins lend it a full-bodied and velvety character while ensuring its aging potential with a structuring tension. A wine that highlights the evolution of the estate initiated by Ludovic Decoster. What an exciting outlook! 2026–2042