2015 Croix Cardinale

The 2015 Croix Cardinale is composed of 70% Merlot and 30% Cabernet Franc aged in 100% new French oak barrels for 13 months. Medium to deep garnet-purple in color, it has a nose of blackberries, plums, black cherries and spice cake with touches of pepper and fragrant earth. The medium to full-bodied mouth is rich and chewy with a good core of fruit.

From the owners of Fleur Cardinale, Dominique and Florence Decoster, the 2015 Château Croix Cardinale is more than a little impressive and comes from a 4-hectare parcel just beside the Fleur Cardinale vineyard. Based on 70% Merlot and 30% Cabernet Franc aged in 100% new oak, its deep ruby color is followed by a terrific bouquet of red and black currants, new leather, dried spices, and flowers. With medium to full-bodied richness, an elegant texture, and a great finish, it’s going to shine for 15+ years.

A rich, unctuous wine, the 2015 Croix Cardinale is laced with dark cherry, plum, torrefaction, chocolate, tobacco, spice and leather. The super-ripe, late-harvest approach yields a powerful wine endowed with considerable depth and richness, but less in the way of aromatic intensity or freshness. The blend is 72% Merlot and 28% Cabernet Franc, brought in between October 13 and 20, which is to say very late for the year. In my view, this is picked too late and overdone, even among wines made in a similar style.