Château FLEUR CARDINALE “EDITION EXTRAORDINAIRE” 2022 / limited Edition

Description

Jane Anson 94 points  www.decanter.com (at Château Lassègue, 18 Apr 2023)
Floral flecks with ripe black fruits on the nose. Straight and linear, concentrated but kept in check by fine and firm tannins that keep the frame relatively narrow and focused from start to finish. Nice purity and clarity of elements with cool blueberries alongside slate, liquorice and crushed stones giving the mineral nuance. Still has tension so you’re not getting much width at this point but everything is presented so nicely and formally, all in its place with high acidity making it such an appealing, friendly and drinkable wine. Great stuff from this estate that continues to impress. Yield 38hl/ha. Harvest 19-30 September. Ageing 12-14 months, 72% new French oak barrels, 18% one wine, 7% 30hl foudres, 3% 750l amphora. 3.6pH. Bee friendly. Jean-Philippe fort consultant.

Yves Beck 94-95 points www.yvesbeck.wine

75% Merlot, 20% Cabernet Franc, 5% Cabernet Sauvignon

Complexe et de bonne intensité, le bouquet de Fleur Cardinale révèle des nuances de baies noires bien mûres. Bonne densité en bouche où le vin dispose de tannins aux grains fins, parfaitement intégrés, en phase avec la fraîcheur et le tempérament de la structure acide. Fleur Cardinale gagne en identité, et l’on ressent bien que le vin est encadré, bien plus linéaire qu’à l’accoutumée. Ainsi, les ambitions sont de plus en plus précises, clairvoyantes. Un vin compact, pertinent, expressif et conquérant !  2027-2047

Antonio Galloni 90-92 points www.vinous.com
The 2022 Fleur Cardinale is soft, open and forthcoming. Dark fruit, chocolate, sweet spice, leather and licorice all open nicely. There’s good depth but less in the way of energy or excitement. All the elements are very well balanced. Perhaps I caught this on a quiet day. Tasted two times.

Neal Martin 90-92 points www.robertparker.com
The 2022 Fleur Cardinale has an opulent bouquet with kirsch, blackcurrant and cedar scents. Blue fruit emerges with time in the glass. The palate is medium-bodied with a sweet, slightly candied entry, dry tannins and an earthy finish. Like some other Saint-Émilion wines this year, it needs more brightness and, perhaps perversely, is missing the charm of the previous vintage.