ROBERTPARKER.COM 90-92 POINTS: "The 2015 Château Fleur Cardinale is a blend of 70% Merlot, 25% Cabernet Franc and 5% Cabernet Sauvignon matured in 100% new oak. It offers sweet dates and figs tincturing the dark cherry and blueberry fruit on the nose. Heady perhaps, yet there is more delineation here than I have discerned in other vintages. The palate is full-bodied with lush ripe black cherry fruit, blueberry and cassis coming in behind, fanning out towards a plush finish that just needs a little more precision to come through."
VINOUSMEDIA 90-93 POINTS: "The 2015 Fleur Cardinale has been a bit inconsistent en primeur, but my most recent example suggests the wine may be settling down a bit. Ripeness is pushed to the edge in a dark, voluptuous Saint-Émilion endowed with superb depth and intensity. The flavors are inky and jammy to the core, with plenty of blackberry preserve, menthol, licorice, plum, dark spice and chocolate notes that flesh out on the wine's sweeping, ample frame. The 2015 is currently aging in 100% new French oak barrels. The Decoster family prefers a relatively short 12 months in oak for Fleur Cardinale. Taking the wine out of oak at the right time will be critical in ensuring the 2015 retains the seductive charm it has today. Tasted five times." -- Antonio Galloni
WINE SPECTATOR 90-93 POINTS: "Shows very pretty fruit, with boysenberry and raspberry confiture notes rolling along, picking up hints of anise and fruitcake. There's lush toast and velvety structure, but the energy is good enough to let it all play out harmoniously. Score range: 90-93" –JM
JAMES SUCKLING 95-96 POINTS: "This is tight and very focused with gorgeous blackberry, blueberry and stone aromas and flavors. Such purity of fruit here. Full and very, very polished. Compacted and compressed."
VINOUSMEDIA 90-93 POINTS: "The 2015 Fleur Cardinale has been a bit inconsistent en primeur, but my most recent example suggests the wine may be settling down a bit. Ripeness is pushed to the edge in a dark, voluptuous Saint-Émilion endowed with superb depth and intensity. The flavors are inky and jammy to the core, with plenty of blackberry preserve, menthol, licorice, plum, dark spice and chocolate notes that flesh out on the wine's sweeping, ample frame. The 2015 is currently aging in 100% new French oak barrels. The Decoster family prefers a relatively short 12 months in oak for Fleur Cardinale. Taking the wine out of oak at the right time will be critical in ensuring the 2015 retains the seductive charm it has today. Tasted five times." -- Antonio Galloni
WINE SPECTATOR 90-93 POINTS: "Shows very pretty fruit, with boysenberry and raspberry confiture notes rolling along, picking up hints of anise and fruitcake. There's lush toast and velvety structure, but the energy is good enough to let it all play out harmoniously. Score range: 90-93" –JM
JAMES SUCKLING 95-96 POINTS: "This is tight and very focused with gorgeous blackberry, blueberry and stone aromas and flavors. Such purity of fruit here. Full and very, very polished. Compacted and compressed."