Château Fleur Cardinale Saint-Émilion 2022 - Grand Cru Classé
96/100
Jeb Dunnuck
95-96/100
Terre de Vins
95-96/100
Bettane & Desseauve
95/100
James Suckling
95/100
Vinous
95/100
Yves Beck
“This is a meticulously crafted wine, thoughtfully designed, tenderly nurtured, and featuring a beautifully mineral finish ~ Terre de Vins”
“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, velvety character while ensuring its future with a structuring tension. A wine that highlights the evolution of the estate initiated by Ludovic Decoster. What a promising future!” (Yves Beck 2024) - Delivery in a wooden case is available for orders of 6 bottles of this wine (depending on country and selected shipping method)
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Eye
Deep color, sustained intensity
Nose
A complex bouquet of ripe fruit, spices, floral notes, and mineral tones
Palate
Full-bodied and velvety on the palate, balanced by elegant, lingering tannins
Serve
Decant at 17-18°C
Open
2 hours before
Drink from
2027
Drink before
2042+
Food and wine pairings
Pair it with a grilled rib of beef, flambéed woodcock, or a platter of hard cheeses...
Bettane & Desseauve
Wine rated (2023 guide) 95-96/100
Rated 3 stars (A high-quality product that serves as a benchmark in its sector)
About the wine:
Silky, full-bodied, and juicy tannins with a remarkable length and a lively finish that sweeps everything away in its wake.
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 structure. It is one of Saint-Émilion’s sure bets, and the new winery is already yielding greater precision and purity. What progress has been made and what efforts have been invested! This estate is on its way to the top.
Guide Hachette des vins
Rated estate (2022 guide) Award-winning wines (This producer’s wines are regularly recognized by the guide)
About the estate:
In 2001, Dominique and Florence Decoster acquired Château Fleur Cardinale, a 23.5-hectare estate situated 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, entered the ranks of the “classified” wines in 2006, a classification confirmed in 2012. The estate expanded by 4 hectares in 2011 with the acquisition of the neighboring La Croix Cardinale vineyard. Ludovic Decoster joined the estate in 2015 and serves as the estate manager.
RVF - La Revue du Vin de France / Guide des Meilleurs Vins de France
Rated winery (2022 guide) Winemaker of the Year
About the estate:
The Decoster family (with roots in Limoges porcelain, specifically Haviland) spares no effort in making this estate 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 generous clay terroir that demands patience to achieve a high level of ripeness. The Fleur Cardinale vineyard is located in the latest-ripening sector of the Grand Crus Classés. Under the guidance of Jean-Luc Thunevin, the estate produces wines with a modern, rich, and flattering style, often bordering on overripeness. Expanded by 8 hectares following the 2012 classification, the estate now covers 23.5 hectares. Of these 8 hectares from La Croix Cardinale (a brand the Decosters still produce), 4 hectares contribute to the Fleur Cardinale grand vin.
Vinous
Wine rated (2025 guide) 95/100
About the wine:
The Fleur Cardinale 2022 is pure sensuality. Silky and beautifully structured, this medium-bodied Saint-Émilion is a true delight. Elegant tannins complement a core of fruit with deep, rich tones. Lavender, espresso, licorice, dried herbs, and menthol unfold in a long, lingering finish. 2027–2042
James Suckling
Wine rated (2025 guide) 95/100
About the wine:
Aroma of spiced cherries, cedar, white pepper, and black truffles. Medium-bodied on the palate, with ripe, earthy, 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
Wine rated (2025 guide) 96/100
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 mature, perfectly balanced Saint-Émilion features moderate acidity, silky tannins, and a polished, harmonious texture. While slightly modern in style, it remains rich, opulent, and captivating, combining depth and finesse. 2030–2060
Terre de Vins
Wine rated (2023 guide) 95-96/100
About the wine:
Right from the first whiff, graphite and blueberry mingle with herbaceous notes. The attack is lively; the wine is precise and balanced, displaying restrained power alongside magnificent red fruit. It is a meticulously crafted wine, carefully conceived and nurtured, with a beautifully mineral finish.
Yves Beck
Wine rated (2024 guide) 95/100
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, velvety character while ensuring its longevity through a structuring tension. A wine that highlights the evolution of the estate initiated by Ludovic Decoster. What a promising outlook! 2026–2042
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