Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon
75cl * 13.5% ABV * St-Emilion Bordeaux
Only 100,000 bottles of the 2019 were produced after a very small yield. 2019 was a year of extremes, with 1.5 hectares of the estate lost to frost in the May. After this the June was very hot and very dry. The vines were under pressure and it wasn't until a late July and August that a satisfactory amount of rain fell that they knew the vintage was reprieved. The summer extremes had allowed for just the right amount of concentration and judicious viticultural practises had produced a small but complex crop.
Drinking window: now-2043
This music loving Chateau not only have a hard rock version of their wine but recommend to pair the 2019 with By the Way -Red Hot Chili Peppers. Other pairings may include pumpkin, squash or a beef filet kebab.
95 Points, Jane Anson, Inside Bordeaux, 2021: 'Though barley getting to two years old, you already see what a great wine this is. Juicy plum and damson fruits, shot through with richly textured raspberry coulis, all kissed by smoky oak without going over the top. A deft mix of tension and balance One of my real stars of the vintage in St Emilion, and an upscore from En Primeur. 100% new oak, with every case sold seeing one tree planted with the hope of planting 10,000 trees in total.'
94 Points, Antonio Galloni, Vinous, 2022: 'The 2019 Fleur Cardinale is a real head-turner. Lush and voluptuous in the glass, the 2019 offers up copious dark fruit, along with hints of chocolate, spice, new leather, menthol and licorice. There is no shortage of wealth or lushness. While 2019 certainly is a very, very good wine, it is not quite as expressive as it was in barrel.'