Château Fleur Cardinale, St-Émilion, Grand Cru Classé, 2012

Maintains an established modern style. Rich and plush with loads of fruit extract but balanced. Slight warmth on the finish. Good length.

This is a little more mellow and balanced than the 2011, and for me much better for it. Full of soft gourmet-edged chocolate with plum, raspberry and blackberry fruits. A tiny bit short through the finish, the fruit is definitely softening, and you can drink this already, especially with a few hours in a carafe. Good quality, giving pleasure already, soft tannins. More Cabernet Franc and a little less Cabernet Sauvignon notable in the blend, in a late harvest year that ran from October 22 to November 3. Yield at 37hl/ha.