Updated: Jul 27, 2023
Deep ruby; tight pink rim. Dense, dark fruited with sweet extract, fiery, big yet balanced by excellent acidities. It is the modern international format: partial oak fermentation, new oak storage, high alcohol, but in this phase, little terroir character. Unfortunately, you must think behind the alcohol and the extract(14% AVBV from St Emilion!).
A piece of excellent work- if you view it from the Parker angle. Putting it from a positive front, you may agree with Larsson's tasting, which says, 'Intense dark ruby core. Floral and dark fruit-scented nose with dark plum, liquorice and mint. The palate is dense but with a rounded texture, fine tannin, notes of cocoa powder, cassis and a finely rounded long finish, good density and weight but relatively approachable and soft simultaneously.
Awarded JS94, the wine is commended by James Suckling with aromas of crushed berries, lavender and blueberries. Full-bodied, dense and layered, and always polished and beautiful(our views differ). Awarded it 94 points, Vinous also commended the openness, darkness and sumptuousness- dark cherry, plum, rose petal, liquorice and sweet spices- extravagantly ripe and flamboyant, hits all the right notes. Awarded 93 points, IWC adds another dimension of tasting, which is- flowers, espresso, plum, truffle, chocolate notes- it is a supple, round, ripe, luscious, pure, clean and, fresh and elegant blend of 75% Merlot, 20% Cabernet Franc and 5% Cabernet Sauvignon. Reaching 14% alcohol, the wine is ageing in 100% new French oak barrels. 92-94, WS awarded 92 points and wrote on it being 'lush, with lots of warm fig and boysenberry confiture flavours, showing ample muscle thanks to lots of brambly grips. Mouthfilling liquorice root and fruitcake notes grace the finish(fine by us). Fleshes out nicely in the glass. A hefty style, but well done(edited).
Lastly, Parker awarded 91 points and writes that 'Château Fleur Cardinale 2014 is rich and decadent on the lavish nose (as it always is). One sample tasted at the Cercle de Rive Droite was more refined and focused than another piece tasted a day later in Saint Emilion. The palate is full-bodied and mirrors the aromatics, wealthy and extravagant on the palate. The acidity is good, and there is plenty of weight and presence towards the finish that I would suggest has more tension and precision than the recent vintages. It's an unashamedly modern style of Saint Emilion, but it feels as if it is reading from its script instead of that of the terroir or the growing season(edited)'.
Deep ruby coloured. Violet. Suppressed dark fruit(blackberries) and red fruit(plums, cherries and strawberries). Evolving nose. Ripe fruit palate: black plum, blackcurrant, ink, vanilla and white. Focused. Clean, long finish. The 43% Cabernet Sauvignon gives a structure with the right acidities. Yet, its easy-drinking nature from the high proportion of 20% Cabernet Franc offers an intriguing combination of fruity, vegetal, graphite, liquorice and earthy flavours. Starts drinking. Sort of either you like it or don't like it. All agree it is a super-value, though.
The word Du Tertre means 'of the soil' on top of Arsac and the gravelly site of the commune. The site is fantastic; fruit quality is fine with the gravity method. Partial oak fermentation: There is always some weight and creaminess on the finish. There is 50% new oak; hence the nose is slightly shy. Although not a super complex Margaux, the style is easy to understand. The Giscours team made it. The scores are high, for example, 94 Jennie Cho Lee and 94 IWC—also an RP92.
Deep ruby, medium rim. A floral, red-fruited first nose(red currents and plums). Certain ripeness from more than 60% Merlot fruit shows fresh red cherries and plums on the second, followed by coffee and liquorice tones. Extended oak ageing and storage hint chocolaty, cedary and forestry tones. The remaining 40% is Cabernet Franc, which gives some freshness and grass tones. Think du Tertre of Margaux, in terms of stylistic influence from Franc. The palate is lighter with soft extract and high acidity, medium towards a long finish.
2013 is an excellent year to show wine-making skills—a great value Grand Cru Classe. DD90+, WS88, Falstaff88. Reasonable scores.
