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Château Fleur Cardinale Grand Cru Classé Saint-Émilion Red Bordeaux Blend 2005
A stunning sleeper of the vintage, quality at this property has soared under the relatively new owners, Dominique and Florence Decosters. The 2005, a blend of 70% Merlot and the rest Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon, was fashioned from yields of 33 hectoliters per hectare. This concentrated wine possesses a gorgeous bouquet of smoke, black currant liqueur, lead pencil shavings, cedar, and Asian spices. In the mouth, it displays a chocolaty richness, a beautiful texture, an expansive, multilayered mouthfeel, and a 45-second finish. A fabulous effort, it will be drinkable in 4-5 years, and should last for over two decades. Robert Parker
Ratings on Delectable
David T 
Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator
Previous notes apply. 05 drinking so we’ll now!!! No place for Merlot like Saint Emilion/Right Bank. Everything else is a distant second.
Previous notes apply. 05 drinking so we’ll now!!! No place for Merlot like Saint Emilion/Right Bank. Everything else is a distant second.
9.3David T
Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator
On the nose, bright, lean, ripe cherries, dark cherries, strawberries, cranberries, pomegranate juice, vanilla, cinnamon, very light spice, wood shavings, loamy soils, dry stones, and bright red fragrant florals. The mouthfeel is lean for Bordeaux. The tannins are lighter than dusty...so resolved. You can tell this is 70% Merlot & 20% Cab Franc as the cherries are singing in harmony better than the group America on the album "Horse with No Name" or for you kids "Fifth Harmony." The rest of the fruits are equally amazing, bright, lean, ripe; cherries, dark cherries, strawberries, cranberries & pomegranate juice. Vanilla, cinnamon, very light spice, wood shavings, loamy clay soils, dry, crushed, fine powdery rocks, dry stones & bright red roses/florals. This wine is pictured in the dictionary under pure elegance. The soft, round, acidity pours over the palate. The fruit driven finish goes on and on. I'm not sure this is going to continue to improve. I think it has about 5 years of good drinking left. Producer notes...Chateau Fleur Cardinale was purchased by Dominique and Florence Decoster in 2001. Prior to buying their first Bordeaux wine estate, they were in the fine porcelain and China business in the Limoges region of France. Chateau Fleur Cardinale is located next door to Valandraud & Rol Valentin & near Chateau Faugeres. Fleur Cardinale takes its name from the myriad of roses and other flowers that are planted around the estate. The 24.5-hectare St. Emilion vineyard of Fleur Cardinale is planted to 70% Merlot, 15% Cabernet Sauvignon and 15% Cabernet Franc. The oldest Merlot vines are 60 years old and vineyard average is 40 years. The soils of their terroir are clay over limestone. Since 2013, the vineyard is farmed using organic, self-sustainable techniques. For the vinification, the juice undergoes a cold maceration at 5 degrees Celsius for 5 or 6 days. This is followed by alcoholic fermentation and a warm maceration for 2 to 3 weeks. All the pumping over is done by gravity, which avoids stirring the musts and stressing the yeasts. Chateau Fleur Cardinale is best paired with all types of classic meat dishes, veal, pork, beef, lamb, duck, game, roast chicken, roasted, braised and grilled dishes. It is also good paired with Asian dishes, rich fish courses like tuna, mushrooms and pasta. Photos of, the Chateau and estate vines, beautiful fruit waiting to be delivered to the Chateau and pressed, the gate entrance and barrel room. The 05 vintage is as beautiful as advertised and drinking better than the 2000's I've had in the last two years. This 05 is a steal for just under $50 when I purchased it in 2007. #SteakandClaretNight
On the nose, bright, lean, ripe cherries, dark cherries, strawberries, cranberries, pomegranate juice, vanilla, cinnamon, very light spice, wood shavings, loamy soils, dry stones, and bright red fragrant florals. The mouthfeel is lean for Bordeaux. The tannins are lighter than dusty...so resolved. You can tell this is 70% Merlot & 20% Cab Franc as the cherries are singing in harmony better than the group America on the album "Horse with No Name" or for you kids "Fifth Harmony." The rest of the fruits are equally amazing, bright, lean, ripe; cherries, dark cherries, strawberries, cranberries & pomegranate juice. Vanilla, cinnamon, very light spice, wood shavings, loamy clay soils, dry, crushed, fine powdery rocks, dry stones & bright red roses/florals. This wine is pictured in the dictionary under pure elegance. The soft, round, acidity pours over the palate. The fruit driven finish goes on and on. I'm not sure this is going to continue to improve. I think it has about 5 years of good drinking left. Producer notes...Chateau Fleur Cardinale was purchased by Dominique and Florence Decoster in 2001. Prior to buying their first Bordeaux wine estate, they were in the fine porcelain and China business in the Limoges region of France. Chateau Fleur Cardinale is located next door to Valandraud & Rol Valentin & near Chateau Faugeres. Fleur Cardinale takes its name from the myriad of roses and other flowers that are planted around the estate. The 24.5-hectare St. Emilion vineyard of Fleur Cardinale is planted to 70% Merlot, 15% Cabernet Sauvignon and 15% Cabernet Franc. The oldest Merlot vines are 60 years old and vineyard average is 40 years. The soils of their terroir are clay over limestone. Since 2013, the vineyard is farmed using organic, self-sustainable techniques. For the vinification, the juice undergoes a cold maceration at 5 degrees Celsius for 5 or 6 days. This is followed by alcoholic fermentation and a warm maceration for 2 to 3 weeks. All the pumping over is done by gravity, which avoids stirring the musts and stressing the yeasts. Chateau Fleur Cardinale is best paired with all types of classic meat dishes, veal, pork, beef, lamb, duck, game, roast chicken, roasted, braised and grilled dishes. It is also good paired with Asian dishes, rich fish courses like tuna, mushrooms and pasta. Photos of, the Chateau and estate vines, beautiful fruit waiting to be delivered to the Chateau and pressed, the gate entrance and barrel room. The 05 vintage is as beautiful as advertised and drinking better than the 2000's I've had in the last two years. This 05 is a steal for just under $50 when I purchased it in 2007. #SteakandClaretNight
9.4
Doug Kahn
Will develop beautifully
Will develop beautifully
9.1Jörgen Lindström Carlvik
Owner, Brix Wine Consultants
Magnificent showing! Started slowly and needed a good 5-6 hours to really express itself, but then... Wow! Powerful and drinking perfectly now with resolved yet present tannins, great plummy fruit, cassis, fading flowers and roasted herbs, wonderfully framed by toasty, yet completely integrated oak. Long, still fruity finish, with all components in place.
Magnificent showing! Started slowly and needed a good 5-6 hours to really express itself, but then... Wow! Powerful and drinking perfectly now with resolved yet present tannins, great plummy fruit, cassis, fading flowers and roasted herbs, wonderfully framed by toasty, yet completely integrated oak. Long, still fruity finish, with all components in place.
9.6
Jean-Philip Journeault
2005
2005
9.2
Lawrence Bernstein
On the dry side. But after airing out for well over an hour it has had depth and earthy complexity. Black fruit. Very dry tanin but pleasant. 87.
On the dry side. But after airing out for well over an hour it has had depth and earthy complexity. Black fruit. Very dry tanin but pleasant. 87.
8.7
Paul J
Decanted 30+ minutes. Darkest wine color wise I’ve ever had. Pitch black almost. Extremely young wine even though it’s a 2005. Many years left! Nose was restrained and if I had the blind I probably would have guessed Australian Shiraz. Massive wine and tastes higher than 14% alcohol. Dark fruit and very thick. Give this guy ten more years.
Decanted 30+ minutes. Darkest wine color wise I’ve ever had. Pitch black almost. Extremely young wine even though it’s a 2005. Many years left! Nose was restrained and if I had the blind I probably would have guessed Australian Shiraz. Massive wine and tastes higher than 14% alcohol. Dark fruit and very thick. Give this guy ten more years.
8.9Sylvain Rhainds
2005 légèrement oxydé
2005 légèrement oxydé
8.7
J Rich
2005 drinking nicely but could actually use a bit more age.
2005 drinking nicely but could actually use a bit more age.
9.0
Leo Bernstein
Phenomenal after 30 min. Should've waited 45. One bottle left.
Phenomenal after 30 min. Should've waited 45. One bottle left.
9.3
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