Saint Emilion Grand Cru Class\u00e9<\/p>\n
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\u00a0Caroline and Ludovic Decoster<\/strong><\/h3>\n <\/p>\n
Gerda<\/span><\/strong>: Tell us about you…<\/em><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\nCaroline Decoster: <\/strong>We are together since we are 17 years old, long before Ludovic’s parents buy Ch\u00e2teau Fleur Cardinale. Ludovic and I are very different, even though we worked together and we are an inseparable duo. Before I arrived at Fleur Cardinale in 2012, and after a short period as a courtier, I was first an engineer. Today, I am in charge of the marketing of the wines and communication\/marketing of the estate.<\/span><\/p>\nLudovic Decoster: <\/strong>I studied business then I worked 10 years in the negoce of Bordeaux before joining my parents and Caroline at the estate in 2015. Today, I am the operation manager, I am in charge of the technical part of the estate. In our relationship, one is organized, pragmatic, and knows how to stand back. The other is creative, intuitive, and has 1000 ideas per hour. I will let you imagine who is who!<\/span><\/p>\nGerda\u00a0<\/span><\/strong>: What are the main challenges you personally face, in the practice of your work?<\/em><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\nLudovic Decoster<\/strong><\/span>: Ch\u00e2teau Fleur Cardinale evolved a lot this past few years: we have built a new wine cellar to improve our wines’ quality, we are doing wine tourism, we have organic certification, and RSE label (CSR – Corporate Social Responsibility), we harvested our white for the first time … I sometimes feel like we are a start-up.\u00a0Despite our unfailing motivation and the fact that we have a lot of energy, our teams sometimes find it difficult to keep up! That’s why we hired an external consultant, to help us and our teams in this great growth phase.<\/p>\nCaroline Decoster<\/strong><\/span>: Markets are in constant progression, customers are more exigent: we need to keep up with the efforts in order to win their loyalties, and have their full attention. It means being consistent on daily basis in all our projects, authentic, and transparent about the ethics of our practices. At the same time, we have more commercial initiatives to make them discover others aspects of Fleur Cardinale’s ecosystem.<\/p>\n![](\"https:\/\/insidelaplace.rcassocies.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/chateau.png\")
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\nHarvest 2021<\/strong><\/h3>\n <\/p>\n
Gerda:\u00a0How did your harvest go?<\/em><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\nLudovic Decoster<\/strong>: The harvest for the red has begun Friday the 1st of October. The weather at the end of September – better than expected – as well as our optimism, and audacity, allow us to take the risk to wait a little longer in order to have a better grape. In the end, the optimal harvest conditions ensured the qualitative potential of the vintage. In terms of quantity, although it is far too early to give a specific number of bottles, we will not do miracles: the frost in April, as well as the very strong pressure of mildiou<\/em>– especially for our first year of organic conversion – have reduced our chances of producing a normal quantity of wine.<\/span><\/p>\n
\nThe brand Fleur Cardinale today and tomorrow<\/strong><\/h3>\n <\/p>\n
Gerda: What positioning (s) do you want for your brand (s)?<\/em><\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\nCaroline Decoster<\/strong>: We want to be known for making the best wine and being one of the best places in Saint Emilion.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\nG<\/span>: How do your wines stand out, and are unique?<\/strong><\/em><\/span><\/p>\nLudovic Decoster<\/strong>: We are lucky that the Ch\u00e2teau is located in the colder part of Saint Emilion, on the East side of the appellation.\u00a0This first quality is accentuated by the fact that the majority of our parcels are located in the northern area of a clay-limestone plateau, with a diversified topography. It gives complex wines in the glass with full and generous fruit – as the vines never suffer from drought in summer – but beautifully fresh, thanks to the Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon planted on limestone. Even in the “sunny” vintages.<\/p>\nG<\/span>: Which of your recent accomplishments would you like to share with your customers<\/span>?<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\nCD<\/strong>: Last October, we became the first Cru Class\u00e9 to have the certification ‘Engag\u00e9 RSE’ (CRS –\u00a0Corporate Social Responsibility). We started this process in 2019, which involve a three-day audit by AFNOR in 2021, at the end of which we were certified with the label level “Confirmed”.\u00a0This is a strong recognition, which proves to all our customers that Ch\u00e2teau Fleur Cardinale is an ethical company, concerned, of course, with its environmental impact, but also with its social and societal impact. In short, we now have the opportunity to prove that our CSR values are real and concrete.<\/p>\nG<\/span>: What future project are you currently working on?<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\nLD<\/strong>:\u00a0We are working on adapting our vineyard to the consequences of global warming: first of all, this involves a massal selection, which aims to preserve the genetic heritage of the Cabernet Franc grapes of Ch\u00e2teau Fleur Cardinale. Furthermore, if we are lucky enough to benefit naturally from the proximity of a 40-hectare forest, streams, and the presence of ponds on our property, this year we are going to work with an entomologist on an inventory of the fauna, followed by recommendations to encourage its progression within our plots. This will encourage the development of fauna. Finally, we have a project to invest in artificial intelligence with the help of stakes connected to the vines and electric wind turbines to reduce both our inputs and to better protect us from spring frosts.<\/span><\/p>\nG<\/span>:\u00a0<\/strong>How far along are your property(ies) in the “green transition”?<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\nCD<\/strong>:\u00a0We have a way of taking into account our environmental impact in a very global way. For example, we are currently in the process of converting all our vineyards to organic: in 2024, 100% of our wines will be certified organic. At the same time, in the second half of 2022, we are going to draw up a first carbon assessment which will enable us to establish an action plan to achieve carbon neutrality. Finally, since 2020, we have been involved with Reforest’Action<\/strong>, a social enterprise whose primary mission is to raise awareness and take action for the world’s forests. With them, we are committed to planting a tree for each case sold. To date, we have already planted more than 20,000 trees around the world.<\/p>\n![](\"https:\/\/insidelaplace.rcassocies.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/cuvier.png\")
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\nThe business<\/strong><\/h3>\n <\/p>\n
Gerd<\/span><\/strong>a<\/span><\/strong><\/span>: What are your priorities in terms of business development?\u00a0<\/em><\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\nCaroline Decoster<\/strong>: We are lucky our distribution is spread worldwide – our wines are distributed by the Place of Bordeaux in 80 countries. We would like to reach more high-end establishments, which are vectors of notoriety.<\/span><\/p>\nG<\/span><\/strong>: Do you plan for market or new releases in the near future?<\/em><\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\nCD: <\/span><\/strong>We are in the starting blocks to launch our 3rd collector edition, scheduled for the end of February, which will highlight Ch\u00e2teau Fleur Cardinale 2020. We have great surprises in store for our buyers.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\nG<\/span><\/strong>: Which vintages should the market be interested in? and why?<\/em><\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\nLudovic Decoster<\/span><\/strong>:<\/span>\u00a0Irrefutably the vintage 2020. A great vintage that benefits from exceptional weather conditions. Our clay-limestone terroirs in a coll area have been able to take advantage of this.\u00a0 This is a vintage that has a special dimension for us, as it is our 20th vintage, the first to be vinified and aged in our new wine cellar, and to have benefited from our new state-of-the-art facilities.<\/span><\/p>\nG<\/span><\/strong>:\u00a0<\/strong>What sales support materials are available to distributors to promote your wines?<\/em><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\nCD: <\/span><\/strong>Our website<\/strong> is complete, it includes the history of the estate, its vineyards, its cultural methods, societal and environmental approaches, and finally our wines with technical sheets, scores, and comments from journalists and wine critics.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\nWe are known to be one of the most dynamic Ch\u00e2teau on social media<\/strong> (Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter). We post regularly varied content.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\nTo finish, we love videos funny and original videos. There are available on our Youtube<\/strong> channel.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n\u00a0Website and Instagram<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n![](\"https:\/\/insidelaplace.rcassocies.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Instagram.png\")
<\/a>![](\"https:\/\/insidelaplace.rcassocies.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/website.png\")
<\/a><\/p>\n
\nLes bouteilles de c\u0153ur de Caroline et Ludovic Decoster<\/strong><\/h3>\n <\/p>\n
Caroline Decoster: <\/strong>We are together since we are 17 years old, long before Ludovic’s parents buy Ch\u00e2teau Fleur Cardinale. Ludovic and I are very different, even though we worked together and we are an inseparable duo. Before I arrived at Fleur Cardinale in 2012, and after a short period as a courtier, I was first an engineer. Today, I am in charge of the marketing of the wines and communication\/marketing of the estate.<\/span><\/p>\n Ludovic Decoster: <\/strong>I studied business then I worked 10 years in the negoce of Bordeaux before joining my parents and Caroline at the estate in 2015. Today, I am the operation manager, I am in charge of the technical part of the estate. In our relationship, one is organized, pragmatic, and knows how to stand back. The other is creative, intuitive, and has 1000 ideas per hour. I will let you imagine who is who!<\/span><\/p>\n Gerda\u00a0<\/span><\/strong>: What are the main challenges you personally face, in the practice of your work?<\/em><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n Ludovic Decoster<\/strong><\/span>: Ch\u00e2teau Fleur Cardinale evolved a lot this past few years: we have built a new wine cellar to improve our wines’ quality, we are doing wine tourism, we have organic certification, and RSE label (CSR – Corporate Social Responsibility), we harvested our white for the first time … I sometimes feel like we are a start-up.\u00a0Despite our unfailing motivation and the fact that we have a lot of energy, our teams sometimes find it difficult to keep up! That’s why we hired an external consultant, to help us and our teams in this great growth phase.<\/p>\n Caroline Decoster<\/strong><\/span>: Markets are in constant progression, customers are more exigent: we need to keep up with the efforts in order to win their loyalties, and have their full attention. It means being consistent on daily basis in all our projects, authentic, and transparent about the ethics of our practices. At the same time, we have more commercial initiatives to make them discover others aspects of Fleur Cardinale’s ecosystem.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Gerda:\u00a0How did your harvest go?<\/em><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n Ludovic Decoster<\/strong>: The harvest for the red has begun Friday the 1st of October. The weather at the end of September – better than expected – as well as our optimism, and audacity, allow us to take the risk to wait a little longer in order to have a better grape. In the end, the optimal harvest conditions ensured the qualitative potential of the vintage. In terms of quantity, although it is far too early to give a specific number of bottles, we will not do miracles: the frost in April, as well as the very strong pressure of mildiou<\/em>– especially for our first year of organic conversion – have reduced our chances of producing a normal quantity of wine.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Gerda: What positioning (s) do you want for your brand (s)?<\/em><\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n Caroline Decoster<\/strong>: We want to be known for making the best wine and being one of the best places in Saint Emilion.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n G<\/span>: How do your wines stand out, and are unique?<\/strong><\/em><\/span><\/p>\n Ludovic Decoster<\/strong>: We are lucky that the Ch\u00e2teau is located in the colder part of Saint Emilion, on the East side of the appellation.\u00a0This first quality is accentuated by the fact that the majority of our parcels are located in the northern area of a clay-limestone plateau, with a diversified topography. It gives complex wines in the glass with full and generous fruit – as the vines never suffer from drought in summer – but beautifully fresh, thanks to the Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon planted on limestone. Even in the “sunny” vintages.<\/p>\n G<\/span>: Which of your recent accomplishments would you like to share with your customers<\/span>?<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n CD<\/strong>: Last October, we became the first Cru Class\u00e9 to have the certification ‘Engag\u00e9 RSE’ (CRS –\u00a0Corporate Social Responsibility). We started this process in 2019, which involve a three-day audit by AFNOR in 2021, at the end of which we were certified with the label level “Confirmed”.\u00a0This is a strong recognition, which proves to all our customers that Ch\u00e2teau Fleur Cardinale is an ethical company, concerned, of course, with its environmental impact, but also with its social and societal impact. In short, we now have the opportunity to prove that our CSR values are real and concrete.<\/p>\n G<\/span>: What future project are you currently working on?<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n LD<\/strong>:\u00a0We are working on adapting our vineyard to the consequences of global warming: first of all, this involves a massal selection, which aims to preserve the genetic heritage of the Cabernet Franc grapes of Ch\u00e2teau Fleur Cardinale. Furthermore, if we are lucky enough to benefit naturally from the proximity of a 40-hectare forest, streams, and the presence of ponds on our property, this year we are going to work with an entomologist on an inventory of the fauna, followed by recommendations to encourage its progression within our plots. This will encourage the development of fauna. Finally, we have a project to invest in artificial intelligence with the help of stakes connected to the vines and electric wind turbines to reduce both our inputs and to better protect us from spring frosts.<\/span><\/p>\n G<\/span>:\u00a0<\/strong>How far along are your property(ies) in the “green transition”?<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n CD<\/strong>:\u00a0We have a way of taking into account our environmental impact in a very global way. For example, we are currently in the process of converting all our vineyards to organic: in 2024, 100% of our wines will be certified organic. At the same time, in the second half of 2022, we are going to draw up a first carbon assessment which will enable us to establish an action plan to achieve carbon neutrality. Finally, since 2020, we have been involved with Reforest’Action<\/strong>, a social enterprise whose primary mission is to raise awareness and take action for the world’s forests. With them, we are committed to planting a tree for each case sold. To date, we have already planted more than 20,000 trees around the world.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Gerd<\/span><\/strong>a<\/span><\/strong><\/span>: What are your priorities in terms of business development?\u00a0<\/em><\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n Caroline Decoster<\/strong>: We are lucky our distribution is spread worldwide – our wines are distributed by the Place of Bordeaux in 80 countries. We would like to reach more high-end establishments, which are vectors of notoriety.<\/span><\/p>\n G<\/span><\/strong>: Do you plan for market or new releases in the near future?<\/em><\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n CD: <\/span><\/strong>We are in the starting blocks to launch our 3rd collector edition, scheduled for the end of February, which will highlight Ch\u00e2teau Fleur Cardinale 2020. We have great surprises in store for our buyers.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n G<\/span><\/strong>: Which vintages should the market be interested in? and why?<\/em><\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n Ludovic Decoster<\/span><\/strong>:<\/span>\u00a0Irrefutably the vintage 2020. A great vintage that benefits from exceptional weather conditions. Our clay-limestone terroirs in a coll area have been able to take advantage of this.\u00a0 This is a vintage that has a special dimension for us, as it is our 20th vintage, the first to be vinified and aged in our new wine cellar, and to have benefited from our new state-of-the-art facilities.<\/span><\/p>\n G<\/span><\/strong>:\u00a0<\/strong>What sales support materials are available to distributors to promote your wines?<\/em><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n CD: <\/span><\/strong>Our website<\/strong> is complete, it includes the history of the estate, its vineyards, its cultural methods, societal and environmental approaches, and finally our wines with technical sheets, scores, and comments from journalists and wine critics.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n We are known to be one of the most dynamic Ch\u00e2teau on social media<\/strong> (Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter). We post regularly varied content.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n To finish, we love videos funny and original videos. There are available on our Youtube<\/strong> channel.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0Website and Instagram<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n<\/p>\n
\nHarvest 2021<\/strong><\/h3>\n
\nThe brand Fleur Cardinale today and tomorrow<\/strong><\/h3>\n
<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
\nThe business<\/strong><\/h3>\n
<\/a><\/a><\/p>\n
\nLes bouteilles de c\u0153ur de Caroline et Ludovic Decoster<\/strong><\/h3>\n
![](\"https:\/\/insidelaplace.rcassocies.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/fleur-cardinale.png\")
<\/p>\n![](\"https:\/\/insidelaplace.rcassocies.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Gerda-miniature.png\")
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