Fleur Cardinale 2008

A sleeper of the vintage, this evolved, soft/silky, dark ruby/purple/plum-colored 2008 offers up scents of blue and red fruits, earth and flowers. Medium to full-bodied as well as round, generous and seductive, it is a pure, impeccably made, wonderfully concentrated, endearing wine to enjoy now and over the next 7-10 years.

The 2008 possesses a deep ruby/purple color as well as complex aromatics of graphite, cedar, blackberries, black currants, and subtle background oak. Dense, with abundant fruit, soft, ripe tannin, and a long, heady finish, I am not sure it is as powerful, rich, or as potentially long-lived as the 2005, but it will be drinkable at a much earlier age, and should evolve for 15 or more years.This 45-acre vineyard owned by the Decoster family has produced fabulous wines over recent years. In 2008, yields were the lowest to date, 35 hectoliters per hectare, and the final blend is 70% Merlot, 20% Cabernet Franc, and 10% Cabernet Sauvignon. Only 5,000 cases have been produced because of the tiny yields and strict selection. The winemaking is overseen by Jean-Philippe Fort (Michel Rolland's right-hand man) as well as Jean-Luc Thunevin.