Château Fleur Cardinal – 2013 – Saint Emilion Grand Cru Classé

Medium intense, ruby-red colour, still with a hint of purple-blue. Fine nose, starts out quite discreetly but I think it has a very nice oakiness. I mean nicely integrated I would say. There are just some fine hints of roasted coffee bean with vanilla. More of a fruity expression with wild berry fruit, dark plum, mild spices with pepper and vanilla. Still appearing quite fresh with a notion of minerality. Opening up slowly. Good bite on the palate. Quite concentrated there with plenty of weight. It is still youthful with a lot of extract. In terms of tannin, I think they are already nicely rounded. About to integrate now and in the coming year. Quite delicious fruit there. Fairly high ripeness, with elegant, rather on the dark fruity side, with cassis. Aromatic herbs as well, but ripe herbs like a hint of sage, mint, dark plum. The oak feels integrated on the palate as well. It does have a very long finish. It keeps lingering with that fresh mineralic bite on the finish. Elegant fruit. Fine potential here. Certainly a wine that should go on for quite some time. In the coming one to two years, it should already be open and fairly drinkable.

Tasted by the Best Sommelier of the World, Andreas Larsson.