The 2016 Château Fleur Cardinale is the definitive bridge for the Napa Cabernet lover looking to cross over into elite Bordeaux. During a comprehensive 15-vintage vertical tasting, Jane Anson, then the Bordeaux correspondent for Decanter magazine, singled out the 2016 as the estate's absolute star, awarding it 95 points. She praised its "plump, well-ripened fruit" and distinct slate-like finish that provides a mineral counterbalance to its natural richness. Since its promotion to Grand Cru Classé status in 2006, this property—located on a cool clay-limestone plateau next door to Valandraud—has evolved into a high-precision powerhouse.

There is no better time to assess a top-tier vintage than at the 10-year mark, and with eight years of bottle maturation, this 2016 has hit a perfect "sweet spot" of drinkability. While elite Saint-Émilion often demands triple-digit investment, this wine represents a turning point toward ultimate refinement without the massive price tag. It captures the voluptuous style the estate is known for, balanced by the 2016 hallmark of vibrant freshness. It is a wine of the highest order, successfully bridging the gap between traditional French structure and modern, fruit-forward pleasure.

A blend of 75% Merlot, 20% Cabernet Franc, and 5% Cabernet Sauvignon, the wine pours a deep purple with aromas of black cherries, violets, and graphite. On the palate, it is incredibly supple, coating the mouth with ripe fruit extract that feels weightless thanks to a streak of limestone minerality. The SommSelect team tasted this twice with Bordeaux Négociants at Wine Paris, and it was a standout within its price point. This is the wine to enjoy without hesitation while your Ausones, Cheval Blancs, and Pavies are slumbering in the cellar—a textbook example of high-caliber luxury that is dark, velvety, and brilliantly fresh.

Santé! 

Critical Acclaim:

95  Points, Decanter:

“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.” - Jane Anson, MW - Sept. 2019

95 Points, Jeb Dunnuck:

“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.”

94 Points, James Suckling:

“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.”