Château Fleur Cardinale 2009, Saint-Emilion Grand Cru Classé - 750ml

IDENTITY

Blend:

• 70% Merlot
• 15% Cabernet Franc
• 15% Cabernet Sauvignon

Alcoholic degree: 15°

WEATHER CONDITIONS

The year began in perfect weather conditions.

Flowering and veraison were early.

The sunny summer was marked with a particularly dry August.

HARVEST

7 > 27 October  2009

Yields: 33 hl / ha

Production: 78 000 bottles

TASTING SUGGESTIONS

Optimal tasting period: 2015 – 2028.

Today: place the wine two hours in a carafe before the tasting, or keep it in the cellar.

Serving temperature : 17-18°C.

PERSONALITY CHARACTERISTICS

The 2009 vintage is synonymous of:

• Spontaneity
• Generosity
• Charm
• Creativity

Critical Acclaim

RP94 Robert Parker's Wine Advocate

A good value among over-achieving St.-Emilion estates is La Fleur Cardinale’s 2009. Composed of 70% Merlot, 20% Cabernet Franc and 10% Cabernet Sauvignon, some of the abrasive tannins noticeable early on in this big wine (14.5% alcohol) are now sweeter and better integrated. Made from tiny yields of 30 hectoliters per hectare, this is a concentrated, rich effort revealing lots of black cherry and black currant fruit as well as a fragrant, firm, full-bodied personality. It should be at its best between 2016 and 2030.

WS93 Wine Spectator

This delivers the textbook panoply of blueberry, plum and blackberry fruit of the appellation, with a lush, creamy mouthfeel and a long licorice- and sweet toast-filled finish. Along with the suave fruit, there's latent grip that should mellow nicely with midterm cellaring. Best from 2013 through 2023.

JS93 James Suckling

Wow. Blueberry, minerals, oyster shell and black chocolate aromas. Full body, with velvety tannins and juicy finish. Delicious and succulent. Better in 2018.