Fleur Cardinale Saint-Émilion 2016 Bottle size: 750ml

‘A blend of 74% Merlot, 18% Cabernet Franc, and the balance Cabernet Sauvignon, the 2016 Château Fleur Cardinale spent 14 months in new French oak. Deep ruby/purple-colored, with a stunning nose of smoked black fruits, classy oak, violets, and camphor, this beauty hits the palate with full-bodied richness, beautiful purity, ripe, present, polished tannins, and a great finish. It's a beautiful wine from this tip-top estate that has the class to keep for two decades or more.’ – Jeb Dunnuck, 95/100

‘Quite earthy and savory on the nose, the fruit only emerging slowly. However, on the palate, this has a very attractive fleshy quality and a moderately dry, long finish of some real sophistication. Easy to drink now, but will hold. A blend of 74 per cent merlot, 18 per cent cabernet franc and eight per cent cabernet sauvignon.’ – James Suckling, JamesSuckling.com, 94/100

‘The 2016 Fleur Cardinale is utterly magnificent. Rich and sumptuous on the palate, it brings together luxurious, super-ripe fruit and striking aromatic freshness to balance things out. This is a stunning vintage for Fleur Cardinale in which all the elements come together to yield a complete, deeply satisfying and delicious Saint-Émilion. Jean-Philippe Fort is the consultant. Tasted two times.’ – Antonio Galloni, Vinous, 92-95/100

‘Dark crimson. Refined and focused. Amazingly smooth with good freshness. Incredibly polished tannins and with sufficient acidity and fruit. A certain stoniness. Very long. Well done! 2023-2037’ – Jancis Robinson, JancisRobinson.com, 17/20

‘The 2016 Fleur Cardinale is medium to deep garnet-purple colored and bursts from the glass with crushed blackberries, mulberries and chocolate-covered cherries with hints of spice cake, dried herbs and fragrant soil. The palate is medium to full-bodied and wonderfully elegant with soft, rounded tannins and a great backbone of freshness, finishing perfumed. 2019-2034’ – Lisa Perrotti-Brown, Wine Advocate, 93/100

‘Plump, well-ripened but mellow fruit from the first nose. Touches of violet florality also as the Cabernet Franc takes the lead, and again the minerality is emphasised with a slate texture on the finish which does a brilliant job of counterbalancing the generous ripeness of the fruit. Crushed mint, liquorice, bitter chocolate on the finish also, this is gourmet and easy to love. Still has an austerity at this point – it needs another few years to really soften. These are lovely wines full of confidence and pleasure with their own distinct personality. 100% new oak. 2023-2044’ – Jane Anson, Decanter, 92/100

‘Good brambly energy leads off here, with a mix of cassis, bitter cherry and plum puree flavors entwined with red licorice and floral notes. The juicy finish pulls everything together. Best from 2021 through 2034.’ – James Molesworth, Wine Spectator, 92/100