Very long after taste — 8 years ago
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 — 8 years ago


This was even better than the Rams were and not nearly as hard-hitting. Luscious and fleshy Merlot-driven, chocolate and maraschino cherry. Charred graphite frame, cool secondary notes of red flowers and Asian spice. Perfect place. — 4 years ago

Pop and pour. Still way too young, but a solid Corton-Charly. On the nose: soft mango, lime, oak toast, struck match, charcoal and black pepper. On the palate: good acidity, slightly thin, but lemon oil, green apple, black pepper. Only complaint is that this is slightly hollow on the mid-palate at this stage. Otherwise, everything is in its place..maybe time will set everything straight. — 5 years ago
The images aren’t flashy like Krug, Billecart or Ruinart etc. but, if you want a really nice, well priced Blanc de Blanc Champagne, this is for you. At, $24.99, I would challenge anyone to find another Champagne let alone a good one at this price point. As well, an equal Cremant or sparking wine in the same price range. Exceptional QPR here!
The nose is bright and fresh. Crisp green apple, lighter color citrus, overripe pineapple, orange peel and spray, touch of golden apple, touch of bruised pear, ginger notes, vanilla cream soda, caramel notes, spice, hints of baguette crust, honey, darker minerals with chalk, sea spray, fruit blossoms and withering yellow lilies.
The wine brings rich, reductive freshness and substantial acidity to your palate. Crisp green apple, lighter color citrus, overripe pineapple, orange peel and spray, under ripe green melon, touch of golden apple, light bruised pear, ginger notes, vanilla cream soda, caramel notes, marzipan, white spice, hints of baguette crust, honey, darker minerals that press the palate deeply with teeth & heat, nice chalkiness, sea spray, fruit blossoms with withering yellow lilies. The finish is quite nice with richness and goes on and on and on.
Photos of; the House of Baron Fuentes, Chardonnay grapes being harvested and Eric De Brisis, the proprietor for Baron Fuente, which is owned by Ignace Baron.
Baron Fuente is a Champagne negotiant that also owns thirty-eight hectares of their own vineyards. They are located in a village called Charly at the far western edge of Champagne. The side closest to Paris. — 7 years ago
Villa Symposia is the Languedoc label from Éric Prissette, the founder of Château Rol Valentin. The winemaking is overseen by Stéphane Derenoncourt. And from what I gathered, L'Origine is the flagship, or at least 'the' high-end cuvée here. The importer label indicates it's 95% Syrah, 5% Grenache (but a blog post from Taste Languedoc mentioned Carignan was added to the blend in 2012). The Syrah comes from the oldest vines of the estate, ~50 years old.
Opens with a noticeable amount of Brett, which can go either way for me. I view Brett like abstract art... done well and it's a beautiful lens to which to view a wine. However, when it's done poorly it's shit (literally). This was done very well. The pungent barnyard, stinky cheese, and saddle leather arrive heavily seasoned with baking spices, noticeably cinnamon, and herbs, including rosemary and tarragon. Ripe, dark bramble fruit, lavender oil, and pine resin pervade the palate and continue through the lengthy and structured finish. An extraordinary mix of the old and new world, while maintaining a clear sense of terroir, and providing an intensely vivid experience. It really hits its stride after 1.5 hours. Fair warning, if you don't like Brett at all then I wouldn't recommend this wine... however if you've ever liked a wine because of Brett, I suspect you'll enjoy. — 9 years ago
Earth wine, cherry notes, mint, pinefruits, mushroom... quite a complex, robust flavour — 9 years ago
Rosso granato intenso, prugna e cuoio, robusto ma molto elegante e ben bilanciato. — 9 years ago
Great bottle,
This all estate grown gem from Baron Fuente is composed of 45% Chardonnay, 40% Meunier, and 15% Pinot Noir from around Charly-sur-Marne. This drinks great right now because of the long ageing that the team at Baron Fuente have lavished on it, but will also keep great in good storage over the medium term. (Gary Westby, K&L Champagne Buyer) — 4 years ago
Double decanted. Notes from 3 hrs open. I am in love with this wine. Stylistically, this is the opposite end of the spectrum from, say, a Louis Latour or Leflaive Corton Charly: this is so vibrant, and lemon drenched mineral, Corton Charlemagne. The nose shows green apple, and lemon curd soaked crushed rock with a very soft nutty note; so intense, I can smell this from a foot away from my glass. On the palate, fantastic dry extract, super-vibrant acid, followed by guava and then lemon and crushed rocks. Excellent weight and a long finish. An acid-head's Corton Charly? Anyway, this is definitely a baby: either needs a very long decant (3hrs at a minimum) or another 3-5 years in bottle. — 6 years ago
Buttery, minerally, lemon peel, very well balanced — 8 years ago
Bar Charly.
14.12.16 — 9 years ago
Another bottle with Charly at the lake:) — 9 years ago
Fare well Charly — 10 years ago
Romain Fitoussi
A Régnié which expresses itself on the side of black cherries, kirsch, or Plum Eau de vie. The nose is very expressive and counterbalances a very dry character in the mouth, almost salty. Aerial, accurate. To drink.
Note revised upwards, at D+1 because it held up admirably and even opened up to additional nuances. A sincere wine. Really well done.
Un Régnié qui s’exprime du côté des cerises noires, kirsch, ou encore Eau de vie de prune. Le nez est très expressif et contrebalance un caractère très sec en bouche, quasi salin. Aérien, précis. À boire.
Note revue à la hausse, à J+1 car il a admirablement tenu et s’est même ouvert sur des nuances supplémentaires. Un vin sincère. Vraiment bien fait. — 3 years ago