The 2015 Fleur Cardinale, a Bordeaux Blend from the Saint Emilion sub-region of Bordeaux, France, is a wine that has garnered high praise from multiple wine critics. This red wine, sealed with a cork and boasting an alcohol content of 15%, is a blend of 75% Merlot, 20% Cabernet Franc, and 5% Cabernet Sauvignon. The wine was matured in 100% new oak barrels for 13 months.
Robert Parker's Wine Advocate awarded the wine a score of 92, with Lisa Perrotti-Brown describing it as "deep garnet-purple in color" and featuring a nose of "fragrant violets, cedar chest and rose hips over a core of chocolate-covered cherries, plum preserves and blueberry pie." The palate is characterized as "rich and plush with plenty of layers and great length."
Jeff Leve of The Wine Cellar Insider gave the wine a score of 94, calling it a "sexy little beast" loaded with "juicy dark fruits, chocolate, licorice, espresso and plums." He noted that it offers pleasure early and has the potential to age for years.
Jeb Dunnuck, also scoring it 94, described the 2015 Château Fleur Cardinale as a "beauty in the vintage" with "sensational notes of black cherries and currant fruits, toasty oak, graphite, and licorice." He praised its "medium to full-bodied, concentrated, and gorgeously pure and elegant" profile and recommended giving it a year or two before enjoying it over the following 15 years.
Wine Spectator’s J.M. awarded it a score of 93, highlighting its "dark fig and boysenberry confiture flavors" with a "graphite spine embedded along the way." He suggested it would be best from 2022 through 2032.
James Suckling gave the highest score of 96, noting "super rich baking spices across ripe dark plums" with a "very suave and attractively styled nose." He described the palate as having "incredible depth and succulently seductive, fleshy plum flavors."
Decanter's review, which scored the wine 94, mentioned that it is "still young, knitted down," with "supple and full of life" tannins. They noted the presence of "caramel notes, clear licorice, and smoky tobacco" and suggested it needs a few more years to open fully.
Finally, Jane Anson, also scoring it 94, described the wine as "creamy and smooth in texture," with "fleshy damson fruit" and "confident seductive black cherry and cassis flavors." She noted that it is brilliantly balanced and can age well, though it would make an impression if decanted for a few hours.
Overall, the 2015 Fleur Cardinale is a well-regarded Bordeaux blend with a rich and layered profile, promising both immediate enjoyment and potential for aging.