2023 Château Croix Cardinale Saint-Émilion Grand Cru Classé
| Type of Wine | Red |
|---|---|
| Country | France |
| Region | |
| Appellation | Saint-Emillion |
| Winery | |
| Vintage | 2023 |
| Grape | , , |
| Content (Alc) | 0.75 ltr (14%) |
| Drink window | 2026 - 2048 |
| Available as of | Mar 1, 2026 |
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Description
EN PRIMEUR DISCOUNT VALID UNTIL 31/12/2025 - DELIVERY SPRING 2026
Château Croix Cardinale is a Saint-Émilion Grand Cru from plots adjacent to the Château Fleur Cardinale estate. The winery was completely renovated in 2012 with an ecological approach. Château Croix Cardinale is considered the "cousin" of Château Fleur Cardinale as they use similar methods for viticulture, vinification and harvesting.
Like its "cousin", Château Croix Cardinale has great aging potential, but can also be enjoyed young, within two to three years after harvest.
This wine offers fresh aromas of ripe black fruit. On the palate it is full and delicious, known for its supple tannins and a long, aromatic aftertaste.
The winter of 2023 had a period of cool weeks, with little rain from mid-January. The buds emerged at the end of March without any danger of frost. In spring the vines exploded, with warmth, rain and mild nights bringing about brilliant flowering and growth, creating the perfect conditions for plant growth, including fungi. The weather conditions at the beginning of summer promoted good vegetative growth of the berries.
FACT: In the Tab: Appendix you will find the official fact sheet of this wine
Specifications
| Available as of | Mar 1, 2026 |
|---|---|
| Type of Wine | Red |
| Country | France |
| Region | Bordeaux |
| Appellation | Saint-Emillion |
| Winery | Chateau Fleur Cardinale |
| Grape | Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot |
| Biological certified | No |
| Natural wine | No |
| Vegan | No |
| Vintage | 2023 |
| Drinking as of | 2026 |
| Drinking till | 2048 |
| Alcohol % | 14 |
| Alcohol free/low | No |
| Content | 0.75 ltr |
| Oak aging | Yes |
| Sparkling | No |
| Dessert wine | No |
| Closure | Cork |
| Promotion | En Primeur |
| James Suckling rating | 92 |
| Vinous rating | 94 |
| Tasting Profiles | Aards, Complex, Droog, Houtgerijpt, Krachtig, Mineraal, Rood fruit, Tannines |
| Drink moments | Indruk maken, Lekker luxe, Open haard |
Professional Reviews
James Suckling
CHÂTEAU CROIX CARDINALE ST.-EMILION 2023
Score
91-92
This is smooth and supple on the palate, with medium body and good concentration of fruit. Flavorful with delicious fruit. Lightly chewy at the end.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua...
Vinous
(91-93)
From: The Dalmatian Vintage: Bordeaux 2023 (Apr 2024)
The 2023 Croix Cardinale has an attractive nose with black cherries, wild strawberries, leather and light tobacco scents. The palate is medium-bodied with fine tannins and superb balance. It’s notably pure, with an elegant finish and just the right amount of sapidity. This should drink well for a decade or more. Classy.
- By Neal Martin on April 2024
(92-94)
From: Bordeaux at the Crossroads: 2023 En Primeur (April 2024)
The 2023 Croix Cardinale is dark, vibrant and super-expressive. Inky dark fruit, mocha, lavender and mocha are nicely amplified. There's plenty of energy and freshness to balance things out. This is very nicely done and also quite promising.
- By Antonio Galloni on April 2024
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua...
95
DECANTER, GEORGINA HINDLE
92
Supple and alive, generous on the palate, juicy and bright but clearly concentrated and ripe with fleshy tannins that fill the mouth and give a wide expression. Chunky almost, but it finishes clean, minty and lifted giving finesse. On the bolder spectrum, a lot going on here. Lots of herbal and spiced flavours with dark fruits and licks of liquorice. Structured and firm. A touch of juiciness adds a needed bounce.
FALSTAFF, PETER MOSER
92
Deep ruby colour, opaque core, purple reflections. Delicate roasted aromas, black forest berries, dark cherries, a hint of ripe cherries, spicy bouquet. Dark berries, subtle fruit, vivid tannins, dark nougat in the finish, a full-bodied food wine.
JANE ANSON
92
« The Decoster family own this 5.4ha estate that has seen plenty of investment over the past few years. Expect tannic grip here, with fresh acidities that are mouth watering from the opening beats, with red fruit charm. An enjoyable wine that will not have to be held for too long before opening – think two or three years maximum. Has grip and lift, although once again small volumes at 15hl/h after frost – this is a cool sector of St Emilion, helping it keep these gorgeous nuanced flavours, but exposing it to frost risk. 28% new oak for ageing.”
JEB DUNNUCK
92-95
The Grand Vin 2023 Château Croix Cardinale checks in as 52% Merlot, 41% Cabernet Franc, and the rest Cabernet Sauvignon raised in a mix of mostly larger barrels, 28% being new. A richer, concentrated 2023, it has rocking notes of ripe red and black fruits, smoked tobacco, chocolate, and crushed stone. This carries to medium to full-bodied, ripe, round, layered, nicely textured red with beautiful tannins and a great finish.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua...
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Wijnhuis
Former owners of the porcelain company Haviland in Limoges, Dominique and Florence Decoster bought Château Fleur Cardinale in 2001. With the help of the existing team, they managed to promote the estate to the rank of Grand Cru Classé in 2006. In 2012, their daughter-in-law Caroline joined the company. Ludovic, their eldest son, joined the team in 2015. The journey that started as a couple now continued as a family.
The wine estate is located on one of the highest points of the clay-limestone plateau of Saint-Etienne-de-Lisse along the ridge of the northern slope. It extends over 23.5 hectares (58 acres) and consists of a wide range of soil and subsoil types with great viticultural potential. The 64 lots that make up the estate enjoy all exposures as well as a varied topography. The grape composition of the vineyard is largely dominated by Merlot (76%), followed by Cabernet Franc (20%) and Cabernet Sauvignon (4%).
For many years, the estate has been fully committed to environmentally friendly conversion of viticulture, while at the same time taking numerous actions in favor of preserving biodiversity, ie no chemical weed control and an insecticide-free policy.
Weeds and flowers between rows restore the nutritional elements of the vines. This practice makes it possible to limit soil erosion and compact soils, while improving their porosity and bearing capacity. By providing a refuge and food source, it promotes the development of macrofauna (earthworms) and microfauna (bacteria and fungi). The estate also includes permanent, natural fallow land, which is a true ecological reservoir, undisturbed by humans, and in which nature has managed to reclaim its rights.
The barrel room, renovated in 2019, makes it possible to carry out the vinification by parcel, allowing careful monitoring of the individual expression of each terroir. It contains temperature-controlled tronco-conical stainless steel vessels from floor to ceiling, allowing for greater precision in managing temperatures and extraction potential.
The different batches (combinations of grape variety and soil type) are aged separately in new French oak barrels for a period of 12 to 14 months. The style of each of the ten cooperages is tailored to the character of each plot, so that the specific profile of each plot is perfectly visible until the end of the aging process. At the same time, about 10% of the production is micro-vinified in twenty 500 liter barrels in a special cellar. Each of these vessels is equipped with an ingenious independent temperature control device that guarantees very precise temperature management. This microvinification gives an extra dimension to the wine, giving it an intense fruit taste. Finally, 750 liters of amphorae are reserved for aging wine from old Merlot and old Cabernet Franc plots. This specific aging improves the fruit character and the length of the flavor in the final blend.
EN PRIMEUR DISCOUNT VALID UNTIL 31/12/2025 - DELIVERY SPRING 2026
Château Croix Cardinale is a Saint-Émilion Grand Cru from plots adjacent to the Château Fleur Cardinale estate. The winery was completely renovated in 2012 with an ecological approach. Château Croix Cardinale is considered the "cousin" of Château Fleur Cardinale as they use similar methods for viticulture, vinification and harvesting.
Like its "cousin", Château Croix Cardinale has great aging potential, but can also be enjoyed young, within two to three years after harvest.
This wine offers fresh aromas of ripe black fruit. On the palate it is full and delicious, known for its supple tannins and a long, aromatic aftertaste.
The winter of 2023 had a period of cool weeks, with little rain from mid-January. The buds emerged at the end of March without any danger of frost. In spring the vines exploded, with warmth, rain and mild nights bringing about brilliant flowering and growth, creating the perfect conditions for plant growth, including fungi. The weather conditions at the beginning of summer promoted good vegetative growth of the berries.
FACT: In the Tab: Appendix you will find the official fact sheet of this wine
| Available as of | Mar 1, 2026 |
|---|---|
| Type of Wine | Red |
| Country | France |
| Region | Bordeaux |
| Appellation | Saint-Emillion |
| Winery | Chateau Fleur Cardinale |
| Grape | Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot |
| Biological certified | No |
| Natural wine | No |
| Vegan | No |
| Vintage | 2023 |
| Drinking as of | 2026 |
| Drinking till | 2048 |
| Alcohol % | 14 |
| Alcohol free/low | No |
| Content | 0.75 ltr |
| Oak aging | Yes |
| Sparkling | No |
| Dessert wine | No |
| Closure | Cork |
| Promotion | En Primeur |
| James Suckling rating | 92 |
| Vinous rating | 94 |
| Tasting Profiles | Aards, Complex, Droog, Houtgerijpt, Krachtig, Mineraal, Rood fruit, Tannines |
| Drink moments | Indruk maken, Lekker luxe, Open haard |
James Suckling
CHÂTEAU CROIX CARDINALE ST.-EMILION 2023
Score
91-92
This is smooth and supple on the palate, with medium body and good concentration of fruit. Flavorful with delicious fruit. Lightly chewy at the end.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua...
Vinous
(91-93)
From: The Dalmatian Vintage: Bordeaux 2023 (Apr 2024)
The 2023 Croix Cardinale has an attractive nose with black cherries, wild strawberries, leather and light tobacco scents. The palate is medium-bodied with fine tannins and superb balance. It’s notably pure, with an elegant finish and just the right amount of sapidity. This should drink well for a decade or more. Classy.
- By Neal Martin on April 2024
(92-94)
From: Bordeaux at the Crossroads: 2023 En Primeur (April 2024)
The 2023 Croix Cardinale is dark, vibrant and super-expressive. Inky dark fruit, mocha, lavender and mocha are nicely amplified. There's plenty of energy and freshness to balance things out. This is very nicely done and also quite promising.
- By Antonio Galloni on April 2024
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua...
95
DECANTER, GEORGINA HINDLE
92
Supple and alive, generous on the palate, juicy and bright but clearly concentrated and ripe with fleshy tannins that fill the mouth and give a wide expression. Chunky almost, but it finishes clean, minty and lifted giving finesse. On the bolder spectrum, a lot going on here. Lots of herbal and spiced flavours with dark fruits and licks of liquorice. Structured and firm. A touch of juiciness adds a needed bounce.
FALSTAFF, PETER MOSER
92
Deep ruby colour, opaque core, purple reflections. Delicate roasted aromas, black forest berries, dark cherries, a hint of ripe cherries, spicy bouquet. Dark berries, subtle fruit, vivid tannins, dark nougat in the finish, a full-bodied food wine.
JANE ANSON
92
« The Decoster family own this 5.4ha estate that has seen plenty of investment over the past few years. Expect tannic grip here, with fresh acidities that are mouth watering from the opening beats, with red fruit charm. An enjoyable wine that will not have to be held for too long before opening – think two or three years maximum. Has grip and lift, although once again small volumes at 15hl/h after frost – this is a cool sector of St Emilion, helping it keep these gorgeous nuanced flavours, but exposing it to frost risk. 28% new oak for ageing.”
JEB DUNNUCK
92-95
The Grand Vin 2023 Château Croix Cardinale checks in as 52% Merlot, 41% Cabernet Franc, and the rest Cabernet Sauvignon raised in a mix of mostly larger barrels, 28% being new. A richer, concentrated 2023, it has rocking notes of ripe red and black fruits, smoked tobacco, chocolate, and crushed stone. This carries to medium to full-bodied, ripe, round, layered, nicely textured red with beautiful tannins and a great finish.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua...
Exclusive Content
Sign in to unlock professional wine reviews from world-renowned critics
Former owners of the porcelain company Haviland in Limoges, Dominique and Florence Decoster bought Château Fleur Cardinale in 2001. With the help of the existing team, they managed to promote the estate to the rank of Grand Cru Classé in 2006. In 2012, their daughter-in-law Caroline joined the company. Ludovic, their eldest son, joined the team in 2015. The journey that started as a couple now continued as a family.
The wine estate is located on one of the highest points of the clay-limestone plateau of Saint-Etienne-de-Lisse along the ridge of the northern slope. It extends over 23.5 hectares (58 acres) and consists of a wide range of soil and subsoil types with great viticultural potential. The 64 lots that make up the estate enjoy all exposures as well as a varied topography. The grape composition of the vineyard is largely dominated by Merlot (76%), followed by Cabernet Franc (20%) and Cabernet Sauvignon (4%).
For many years, the estate has been fully committed to environmentally friendly conversion of viticulture, while at the same time taking numerous actions in favor of preserving biodiversity, ie no chemical weed control and an insecticide-free policy.
Weeds and flowers between rows restore the nutritional elements of the vines. This practice makes it possible to limit soil erosion and compact soils, while improving their porosity and bearing capacity. By providing a refuge and food source, it promotes the development of macrofauna (earthworms) and microfauna (bacteria and fungi). The estate also includes permanent, natural fallow land, which is a true ecological reservoir, undisturbed by humans, and in which nature has managed to reclaim its rights.
The barrel room, renovated in 2019, makes it possible to carry out the vinification by parcel, allowing careful monitoring of the individual expression of each terroir. It contains temperature-controlled tronco-conical stainless steel vessels from floor to ceiling, allowing for greater precision in managing temperatures and extraction potential.
The different batches (combinations of grape variety and soil type) are aged separately in new French oak barrels for a period of 12 to 14 months. The style of each of the ten cooperages is tailored to the character of each plot, so that the specific profile of each plot is perfectly visible until the end of the aging process. At the same time, about 10% of the production is micro-vinified in twenty 500 liter barrels in a special cellar. Each of these vessels is equipped with an ingenious independent temperature control device that guarantees very precise temperature management. This microvinification gives an extra dimension to the wine, giving it an intense fruit taste. Finally, 750 liters of amphorae are reserved for aging wine from old Merlot and old Cabernet Franc plots. This specific aging improves the fruit character and the length of the flavor in the final blend.