Château Fleur Cardinale
The Decoster family’s first acquisition, in 2001, the property was the starting point of a new adventure, after thirty years in the porcelain business in Limoges. An adventure that, as early as 2006, raised the estate to the rank of Grand Cru Classé of Saint-Émilion.
The vineyard
27.6 hectares east of Saint-Émilion, on the north-facing slope of the limestone plateau of Saint-Étienne-de-Lisse, in the coolest part of the appellation. A founding choice for the estate, which has now become an asset in the context of global warming.
The clay-limestone terroir offers a diversity that is rare in the appellation, with five molasse facies and three limestone facies, for a total of more than forty distinct soil types.
As for plantings, Château Fleur Cardinale gives pride of place to Merlot (74%), complemented by Cabernet Franc (19%) and Cabernet Sauvignon (7%).
The ecosystem
Château Fleur Cardinale is a true verdant haven.
The landscape is rolling, traced by gently sloping lines. Around the cellar, the vines form a natural amphitheatre. The plots wrap around a 40-hectare forest. Two ponds, streams and hedgerows complete this environment, in which biodiversity thrives.
Between this north-facing slope, these soils conducive to good water regulation and this preserved nature, the estate is a true reserve of coolness.
The winery
Here, one guiding principle: preserving the fruit.
The vat room, redesigned in 2019, was built to work with precision: sorting of the grapes according to ripeness, gravity-fed filling of the tanks, gentle extractions. The truncated-cone, double-walled stainless steel tanks, of varying capacities, make it possible to vinify each plot separately.
The ageing cellar
Ageing is carried out lot by lot, for 12 to 14 months, in complementary vessels: oak barriques (new and once-used) for structure, demi-muids and foudres for fruit, terracotta amphorae for aromatic purity.
Château Fleur Cardinale
Saint-Émilion Grand Cru Classé
Château Fleur Cardinale has been our flagship cru since 2001: a Saint-Émilion Grand Cru Classé, elegant and distinguished in its sensory profile, modern and dynamic in its approach.
Complex and generous, it offers fresh, intense fruit, on both the nose and the palate.
Its balance comes from two terroirs: the power and silkiness of the Merlots on clay, the freshness and distinguished character of the Cabernets on limestone.
An age-worthy grand vin, its solid structure rests on tannins that remain fine, the signature of the House.
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Volume produced
Around 105,000 bottles a year, depending on the vintage.
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Tasting tips
Château Fleur Cardinale is an age-worthy grand vin, delicious now or after a few years in the cellar. When young, decant it one to two hours before serving, to give it time to open up. Serve it at around 18°C in a room at ambient temperature, nearer 16°C when the weather is warmer.
It will evolve delicately over time, yet can be shared just as well over a special meal as at a relaxed moment when the desire for a great wine arises.
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Food and wine pairing
Château Fleur Cardinale pairs well with roast meats and poultry, firm-fleshed fish or roast vegetables.
For something unexpected, it also pairs with a dish created by chef Lucas Cramaix, who regularly works at the estate: smoked beetroot cooked in its skin, blueberry and juniper sauce, fresh raspberries and pickles.
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Music and wine pairing
To enjoy while listening to Sing for Absolution by Muse
A mysterious intro, a slow rhythm, a piano and a smooth voice recall the satiny texture of the wine. The track gradually builds in power, the voice begins to vibrate, and it ends on a finale full of density, like the way Château Fleur Cardinale evolves on the palate.
Intuition de Fleur Cardinale
Saint-Emilion Grand Cru
Intuition de Fleur Cardinale, Saint-Émilion Grand Cru, is the second blended cuvée of Château Fleur Cardinale: because an Intuition is the beginning of a larger project.
Intuition de Fleur Cardinale is a cuvée made with the same care as Château Fleur Cardinale.
Its blend is decided each year by tasting, selecting the lots for their moreish appeal and drinkability.
It reveals a profile of ripe black fruit, understated tannins and a supple, fresh, silky texture, for immediate pleasure.
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Volume produced
Around 15,000 bottles a year, depending on the vintage.
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Tasting tips
Intuition de Fleur Cardinale is best enjoyed young, for its fruit. A brief spell in the decanter is enough to open it up. Serve it between 16 and 18°C, nearer 16°C in warm weather.
It is the ideal companion for a dinner with friends or a meal put together on the spur of the moment. Its generous texture and understated tannins can be fully enjoyed today, without waiting for a special occasion.
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Food and wine pairing
This wine is a natural companion to grilled meats or Mediterranean cuisine. It pairs just as well with a chocolate or red berry dessert.
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Music and wine pairing
To enjoy while listening to Endlessly by Muse
The hypnotic, repetitive rhythm evokes the wine as it unfolds on the palate with fluidity, without a rough edge. Bellamy’s velvety voice, almost honeyed, echoes the roundness of the tannins. The gentle percussion and the violins in the background bring an enveloping harmony, like a wine that invites you to prolong the pleasure of tasting.