Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.4

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 years ago

Frank Waxman

9.0

Vevey, Caves du Chardon. — 10 years ago

Trent Johnsen

8.9

From the wine store at back of Cookbook company - Gamay a really nice complement to the Pinot — 11 years ago

Simon Burke-Kennedy

9.0

Crisp, light with apple/pear fruitiness. Lovely Chardonnay. — 11 years ago

Daniele Cuzin

9.1

Le vin pour notre diner de Saint Valentin, parfait avec le confit de canard. — 12 years ago

Sean M Quinn

9.2

Best Syrah of the night. Not all are posted, this HAD to be. — 12 years ago

Kevin Wahila

9.6

Our go to rosé. Always on display at Carrefour :). Less than 4€.
A bit fruity. Not very sweet. Toward the dry end of the spectrum. — 13 years ago

Mike Searby

9.0

Like a north Rhone. Wine reserve. Spicy with black fruits. — 9 years ago

Piper June

9.5

Multiple flavors. Full bodied, smokey. — 9 years ago

Tom Utheim

8.9

På egget med CHO — 10 years ago

Philip Kaiser

9.5

Light and crisp, easy drinking wine. Described to me as dry, but to me not at all. — 10 years ago

Brad Hemmer

9.1

Baked cherry, cinnamon, baking spice, leathery, med body, oak, decent lingering tannins. — 10 years ago

with Jenny

Jen H.

9.0

Lovely and complex — 11 years ago

Raymond C Wiley

8.9

Clean, crisp, and no overdone chemicals or "manufactured flavor. — 11 years ago

Hannah Barbour

9.0

Bought this bottle of 2009 in the South of France from a Caves in Saint Laurent des Arbres. Lovely Lirac with a taste of cocoa and a little oak. If you ever visit the Rhone, Lirac is a must. Cost about €8. — 12 years ago

Maryse Geday

9.7

Caprices saint antoine — 13 years ago

Matthew Potts

9.3

Beautifully light, fruity and tangy, of the sort you can drink on large mouthfulls. — 13 years ago

Farial Moradnouri

9.1

Fruit forward - perfect for the bluebells 💙💜 — 9 years ago

with Arash

Vic Paratore

9.0

Subtle red with good lingering taste.
Drink again. — 10 years ago

Chris Doloughty

9.0

As the French always say...this little fucker got me drunk — 10 years ago

with Michael

Lynn Gowdy

9.1

Red and black berries, sage brush, faint baking spices. Will soften and be even more enjoyable in the next few years. — 10 years ago

Richard Goacolou

9.5

Tres bon vin, bien relevé et pas cher du tout (1,95€ la bouteille) — 11 years ago

Andrew Sheridan

9.0

This had more of a softness to its texture and tannins than I've normally found in other Nuits Saint G's..Very approachable. — 11 years ago

Laurel Talley

10

Checked in to a lovely Gite in Avignon. This was a leftover bottle from our hosts' wedding. It's superb. — 11 years ago

David Moreno

9.4

Rasteau 2013, vino tinto muy suave — 12 years ago

Lindsay Fry

9.6

Compliments everything it's paired with. Give it time to open up. — 13 years ago

Jen Por

9.7

Great value 19.99 4 corks — 13 years ago