Chateau Fleur Cardinale Saint-Emilion Grand Cru 2005

Chateau Fleur Cardinale Saint-Emilion Grand Cru 2005

Château Fleur Cardinale is a Saint-Émilion Grand Cru Classé that has been owned by Florence and Dominique Decoster since 2001. The property was promoted to the rank of Grand Cru Classé in 2006 and has remained there through two reclassification cycles in 2012 and 2022.

The vineyards extend for 23.5hectares (58 acres) across Saint-Émilion and are planted on soils of clay and limestone. Merlot dominates here and is planted alongside smaller plots of Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc.

Critical Acclaim

94 Wine Advocate

This beautiful wine from Fleur Cardinale performed great in its youth, both from barrel as well as post-bottling. A gorgeous blend of 70% Merlot, 20% Cabernet Franc and 10% Cabernet Sauvignon made by the Decoster family, the 2005 provides more evidence that this property is fully exploiting its tremendous potential. A few years away from reaching its plateau of maturity, its stunning nose of black cherry liqueur, cassis, licorice, earth and spice is followed by a full-bodied, concentrated and pure wine.

94 Vinous

The 2005 Fleur Cardinale is packed with succulent red cherry, red plum, mint, blood orange, mocha and espresso. Sumptuous and bold, to the core, Fleur Cardinale is wonderfully immediate. Time in the glass really lets the wine shine. This is a rich, concentrated wine with a lot of oak, but one of the very best wines made in this style. It's a terrific showing from the Decoster family. 

93 Jeb Dunnuck

The 2005 Château Fleur Cardinale is terrific, with a still youthful ruby hue as well as lively aromatics of black cherry and blackberry like fruits as well as complex notes of leafy herbs, leather, and limestone like minerality. This medium to full-bodied, elegant Saint-Emilion has resolved tannins, wonderful purity of fruit, and a great finish. As with most 2005s, it benefits from air and this has another solid decade of prime drinking.