A very rich and ripe, dark-fruited wine with dark, stony aromas. Rich fruit on the palate, offering dark plum and chocolate flavors and firm, long, assertive tannins. A blend of 72 per cent merlot and 28 per cent cabernet franc. Second wine of Château Fleur Cardinale. Try from 2022.

Lushly textured, medium/full bodied, fresh, ripe and juicy, there are loads of sweet, silky, soft fruits and licorice that will satisfy any hedonist. Read more at:https://www.thewinecellarinsider.com/wine-tasting-note/?vintage=2016&wine=Chateau%20Croix%20Cardinale

The 2016 Château Croix Cardinale comes from a 4-hectare vineyard of clay and limestone soils that was purchased by Dominique and Florence Decoster, owners of Fleur Cardinale, in 2012. The 2016 is another great value in a vintage where there are loads of them. Made from 72% Merlot and 28% Cabernet Franc brought up in new French oak, it has a medium-bodied, elegant, light-on-its-feet style as well as classic red and blue fruits, some dried herbs and spice aromas, and a silky texture that keeps you coming back to the glass. Drink it any time over the coming decade or more.

A fresh, pure style, with a lovely beam of cassis, bitter cherry and raspberry puree flavors streaming through, lined with elegant floral and chalky mineral accents along the way, resulting in polished edges that show a touch of tension through the middle. Best from 2021 through 2031. 1,333 cases made. — JM

Medium to deep garnet-purple colored, the 2016 Croix Cardinale gives up bold notes of baked black cherries, red and black plums, garrigue and tilled soil with a hint of mossy bark. The palate is medium to full-bodied, plush and pure with a lovely peppery edge to the long finish.- LPB