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

Bettane & Desseauve

About the domain :

Florence and Dominique Decoster, their son Ludovic and his wife Caroline have developed a passion for this 23-hectare hillside estate near Castillon. The wines have a rare generosity, even in average vintages, and have gained in tannin finesse. It's one of Saint-Émilion's best-sellers, and the new winery has already improved precision and purity. So much progress and effort. This cru is on its way to the top.

Decanter

About the wine:

Aromas of smoked coffee beans and ripe blackcurrants. The texture and flavor of this wine are excellent, it's full of herbs and dark licorice fruits (mainly cherries). It's 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 imposing shoulders, power and balance. Harmonious, charming and elegant. A very complete wine that balances generous fruit, tannins, acidity and mineral freshness. One senses that it has been excellently executed. It exudes a real sculpted and refined purity. A great wine, still juicy and attractive on the finish. A first-rate purchase. Drink between 2027 and 2045.

Guide Hachette des vins

About the domain :

In 2001, Dominique and Florence Decoster acquired Ch. Fleur Cardinale, a 23.5-hectare estate on one of the highest points of the AOC, to the east of Saint-Émilion. Their investments quickly bore fruit: in 2006, the steadily-growing estate joined the ranks of the "classés", a ranking confirmed in 2012. The estate expanded by 4 ha in 2011 with the purchase of the neighboring Croix Cardinale vineyard. Ludovic Decoster joined the estate in 2015 and holds the position of Operations Manager.

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

About the domain :

The Decoster family (from Limoges porcelain, Haviland) has spared no effort to make this cru one of the appellation's best values. This beautiful property, located in the eastern part of Saint-Émilion, north of Saint-Étienne-de-Lisse, benefits from a generous clay terroir, requiring patience to reach a high level of maturity. The Fleur Cardinale vineyard is in the latest-growing 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. Enlarged by 8 ha with the 2012 classification, the estate now covers 23.5 ha. Of these 8 ha from La Croix Cardinale (a brand the Decoster family still produce), 4 ha go into the Fleur Cardinale grand vin.

James Suckling

About the wine:

Beautiful limpidity of small crushed red berries with dried flowers and minced oyster mushrooms on the nose. Full-bodied, with layers of ripe tannins and juicy fruit. Chocolate and walnut character emerge, along with hints of vanilla beans. Magnificent.

Le Figaro vins

About the wine:

The nose is quite discreet, fine and delicate, as if discreetly blushing. After a few aromas of elderflower, it opens onto a mouth of great fluidity, limpid and pure, with notes of black fruit, spices and cloves, and a finish of great tenderness.

Terre de Vins

About the wine:

With a subtle, slightly woody approach, the surprise comes on the palate, which is full and flavorful. "A little jewel", commented one taster, a construction in detail, heady and opulent juice, quite solar, on juicy red fruits. The whole is delicious, but also dense, with a very elegant tannic structure. You'll want to come back for more. An accomplished, racy wine with good ageing potential.

Vert de Vin

About the wine:

The nose is all finesse and elegance, offering a lovely airy approach, controlled power, complexity and depth. Hints of wild blackberry, camphor and violet are combined with juicy/acidic blue berries, blueberry/lys, as well as discreet pepper and a subtle sense of place. The palate is fruity, racy, elegant, well-balanced, all subtlety / delicacy in its power / structure and offers juiciness, suavity, an acidic frame, good definition, greediness as well as a lovely finesse of grain. On the palate, this wine expresses notes of juicy/pulpy blackcurrant, full-bodied raspberry and, more lightly, blueberry, combined with hints of full-bodied redcurrant, as well as fine hints of lily, plum, chocolate, caramelization and an imperceptible hint of sweet spices. The tannins are precise, powerful, polished, well-mannered and elegant.