Winemaker and Vineyard: Château Fleur Cardinale sprawls its vineyards over nearly 23 hectares. The property is located in the commune of Saint-Etienne-de-Lisse, to the east of the Saint-Emilion appellation. The topography is diverse: the slopes mainly have quite steep grades (10% frequent), and all orientations can be found locally. Château Fleur Cardinale is situated on the north-facing slope on a clay-limestone plateau. The vineyard, whose vines have an average age of 30 years, benefits from a grape variety dominated by Merlot (75%), followed by Cabernet Franc (17%) and Cabernet Sauvignon (8%).

Tasting: The 2019 Fleur Cardinale derives from a late-ripening site on the north-facing side of Saint-Émilion's limestone plateau. Revealing aromas of jammy cherries, spices, dark chocolate and mocha, it's full-bodied, broad and velvety, with powdery tannins and a generous core of lively fruit, concluding with a chalky finish. This is a fleshy, front-loaded wine in a contemporary style that will please consumers who favor power and richness, but which will leave purists wondering if less might be more. robertparker.com (04.07.2022)

Service: Serve at room temperature (16-18°C) to accompany rib steaks with Espelette pepper