Château Fleur Cardinale 2020

A delicate and aromatic Grand Cru Classé of Saint-Émilion

The estate

The First Wine of the Saint-Émilion Grand Cru Classé Château Fleur Cardinale offers a remarkable expression of the Saint-Émilion terroir, an emblematic appellation on the Right Bank of Bordeaux.

The vineyard

Château La Fleur Cardinale has a 22.5-hectare vineyard planted in a veritable mosaic of 7 different clay and limestone soils and subsoils.

The vintage

2020 was an early vintage at the estate, in terms of both the vine cycle throughout the year and the dates of harvest. While two plots of Merlot were harvested on September 17 and 18, a rainy episode meant that the harvest was paused for a few days in order to allow the rest of the fruit to fully ripen.

Vinification and ageing

2020 is the first vintage to have been entirely vinified and aged at the property's new facilities. While 10% of the production was vinified by micro-vinification, ageing was carried out in 50% barrels and 50% amphorae, a novelty introduced to the property with this vintage.

The blend

The Château La Fleur Cardinale 2020 was made from a blend of Merlot (77%), Cabernet Franc (18%) and Cabernet Sauvignon (5%).

The tasting

Colour

Deep and brilliant, the wine displays a purple colour, adorned with purplish reflections.

Nose

The nose reveals a rich aromatic palette of great purity.

Palate

Following a straightforward and dense attack, the palate seduces with its structure, its precise fruit flavours, its controlled aromatic power and its delicate texture. The ageing in oak and amphora lends an incredible finesse to the tannins, along with a good persistence and great elegance to this vintage, which boasts a remarkable ageing potential.