A rare chance to taste this wine, as there are only 140 bottles left at the estate after a savage frost that affected 97% of the vineyard, save a sliver of clay soils around the main château. Inevitably this means an unusual blend, with more Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon than in most vintages. The Cabernet dominance comes through in the floral, slightly austere character of the aromatics and tannins. It's a brilliant wine, although more savoury in character than a usual Fleur Cardinale, with pure cassis, damson, rosebud, rose petals, a touch of bracken. The overall structure has relaxed since I last tasted in En Primeur, and the soft smoke notes curl around the fruit, adding complexity. 100% integral vinification in 500l new oak vats, then moved into one year old barrels for ageing. This was the first vintage Ludovic Decoster made as techincal director, and he said he has found it hard to taste ever since, because it brings back the feelings of the morning after the frost and seeing the devasation that had been wrought. Only 1,000 magnums were bottled - each one a moving reminder than wine is a time capsule of a vintage.

(92-94) Due to heavy frost damage, only 1,000 numbered magnums were produced for this vintage. Blue-black dark with a faultlessly effective density of flavor, richness and length, the wine is round with impressive quantities of dark chocolate, licorice and juicy plums.

(WA 92-94+ points) Fleur Cardinale was hit very hard by the frost—nearly all the vineyards were wiped out. Potential production for 2017 is only around 1,000 magnums. The tentative blend of the 2017 Fleur Cardinale is 45% Merlot, 35% Cabernet Franc and 20% Cabernet Sauvignon. Very deep purple-black in color, it has a nose of baked blackberries, black cherries and dried mulberries with touches of underbrush, truffles and Chinese five spice. The palate is medium to full-bodied, velvety and packed with black fruits, finishing long and spicy. - Lisa Perrotti-Brown

(90-93) This has a toasty profile, featuring ganache and warm tobacco notes surrounding a core of lightly steeped plum and blackberry fruit. Shows good flesh and depth, with a graphite accent buried through the finish. A very solid version of the style. -JM

(90-92) The 2017 Château Fleur Cardinale is a tweaked blend of 45% Merlot, 35% Cabernet Franc, 20% Cabernet Sauvignon that’s aging in 100% new French oak. Unfortunately, due to the April frosts, there are only 1,000 magnums being produced, but it’s a terrific effort that has more depth and length than most. Cassis, spicy oak, tobacco, and some graphite nuances give way to a medium-bodied, nicely concentrated, balanced 2017 that has rock solid mid-palate density, present, ripe tannin, and a good finish. Give it a few years.