Figeac

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Château-Figeac has always been acknowledged as one of the top Bordeaux wines with the best ageing potential, gaining a highly flavourful and succulent complexity over the years. It can be enjoyed just as much in its youth as after several decades. First to be appreciated is the colour, with deep shades of crimson that recall Tyrian purple. On the nose, the wildly appealing Merlot notes of its youth give way to striking depth that is balm to the soul of all Cabernet lovers. Its aromas reflect the lightness of the soil, expressed in a highly subtle, ethereal bouquet in which notes of peony, infused fruit and graphite demonstrate bright vitality. The two-thirds of Cabernet in the blend quite literally sculpt the body, strengthening the grip from the mid-palate and rolling out a long, taut and vibrant backbone with very pure mineral notes on the finish. The whole is perfectly enfolded in lush, satin tannins in the style of the highest of high fashion. With time, the wine develops flavours of tobacco-leaf with hints of black truffle, while retaining incomparable freshness of fruit. A glimpse of perfection… 2019 Wine Advocate 97: The 2019 Figeac has turned out brilliantly. Wafting from the glass with aromas of blackberries, cassis, warm spices, violets and pencil shavings, framed by a deft touch of nicely integrated new oak, it's full-bodied, deep and concentrated, with terrific depth at the core, powdery structuring tannins and lively acids, concluding with a long, precise finish. Rich but vibrant, this 2019 reflects the new precision that Frédéric Faye has brought to Figeac; but while it's richer and more polished than the wines of yesteryear, the estate's identity hasn't been lost. James Suckling 98: This is a really beautiful red with crushed-berry, plum, bark, mushroom and earth character. It’s full and creamy-textured with lots of tannins, but they are integrated and polished and flow across the palate. So much depth and intensity, yet there’s underlying grace and class. Try after 2025. Vinous 98: The 2019 Figeac has a wonderful nose, beautifully defined with black fruit, loam, black truffle shavings and light graphite scents. Very focused and plenty of vigor. The palate is medium-bodied with fine-grain tannins, intense and almost pixelated towards the vibrant, tensile finish. Effortless and classy, this should evolve gracefully for many years. Decanter 97: A remarkable Figeac which, with a yield of just 34hl/ha and using 100% new oak, remains elegant and refined, with none of the alcoholic excess seen in too many 2019 St-Emilions. Cabernet Franc adds to the beguiling, cool, fragrance with concentrated, plush, dark plum/leafy blackcurrant derived from the Sauvignon. Creamily textured yet sappy, vibrant and fresh on the finish, the fine-grained tannins indicate a very long life ahead. 2020 Wine Advocate 100: The 2020 Figeac is the finest wine that has been bottled to date at this estate since its renaissance began a decade ago. Wafting from the glass with aromas of blackberries and raspberries mingled with cigar wrapper, pencil shavings, licorice and black truffles, it's medium to full-bodied, deep and concentrated, with a suave, harmonious profile, vibrant acids, and beautifully refined structuring tannins. This sapid, complex wine represents the essence of this great terroir. Two years after extensive soil studies of the estate were carried out, and the first growing season to see cover crops used in the vineyards year-round, the 2020 benefited from more coherently demarcated parcels and more precise élevage, which taken together help to account for its edge over the excellent 2019. James Suckling 100: A mesmerizing nose here with flowers such as violets and red roses, then shows cherries and currants with some mineral and black truffles. Full-bodied yet so refined and harmonized with ultra-fine tannins that run the length of the wine. Flavors of perfectly ripened fruit (al dente) with a hazelnut character that comes from the seeds. Incredibly transparent young red. Breathtaking. 37% merlot, 32% cabernet franc and 31% cabernet sauvignon. Drink after 2028 and onwards. Magnificent. Vinous 97: The 2020 Figeac was bottled in mid-July. It has an exquisite bouquet that unfolds effortlessly in the glass with blackberry, crushed stone, graphite and fresh fig scents. It blossoms with aeration. The palate is medium-bodied with slightly edgy tannins on the entry that frame the pure black fruit. It's very harmonious and silky smooth in texture that almost disguises what Frédéric Faye terms the "verticality" of the wine. Fresh and saline on the finish with just a light black pepper touch on the aftertaste. An absolute treat. 2021 Wine Advocate 96+: A wine that transcends the vintage's challenges, the 2021 Figeac is performing brilliantly in bottle, wafting from the glass with aromas of raspberries and cherries mingled with striking top notes of violet, rose petal, iris and mint. Medium to full-bodied, satiny and suave, it's pure and vibrant, its enveloping core of fruit framed by ultra-refined tannins, concluding with a long, floral finish. Readers in the habit of drinking top grand cru Burgundy are liable to find themselves seduced by this immensely elegant, perfumed Saint-Émilion, a wine I'll definitely be adding to my own cellar. It's the result of gamble that paid off, as Figeac's team chose to wait to pick their Cabernet Sauvignon despite the menace of forecast rain—a menace that, in fact, scarcely transpired. The 2021 saw a somewhat shorter-than-usual élevage of 16 months in barrel without fining. James Suckling 95: This wine has beautiful aromas of graphite with plums, berries and some dried flowers. Medium-bodied with juicy fruit and an iron and chocolate undertone. Firm and integrated tannins and a lightly chewy finish. Serious for the vintage, it needs to come around with bottle age. First year in the new winery. Best after 2027. Vinous 93-95: The 2021 Figeac is a super-classy, elegant Saint-Émilion. Silky tannins and lifted, savory aromatics add to a total impression of finesse. There is more Cabernet Sauvignon than typically in this year's blend, which naturally brings added aromatic presence. The 2021 is not as explosive as recent vintages have been, but its class is evident. This is a strong showing from Figeac and the team led by Estate Manager Frédéric Faye. Decanter 97: Deep, complex and precise, what a wine in 2021. Grippy and intense, this captures attention and holds it: the sharp zing of acidity, wet stone minerality, crystalline fruit. Bright and fresh, excellent tannin integration, mid-palate depth and a salty, liquorice twist at the end. You almost want to chew this wine, yet it's spot-on and totally moreish; freshness is the focus but not a beat is missed with the texture and mouthfeel. No one can be disappointed with this wine! Wine Enthusiast 94: A ripe wine that is beautifully balanced. Rich tannins and concentration always within elegant limits. Black-currant flavors are forward. Drink this rich wine from 2028. Organic. 2022 Wine Advocate 100: The 2022 Figeac is one of the wines of the vintage. Unfurling in the glass with a deep and complex bouquet of dark berries and cassis mingled with hints of violet, pencil lead, mint and cigar wrapper, it's medium to full-bodied, dense and concentrated, with striking intensity and sweetness of fruit married with unerring precision and energy, concluding with a long, penetrating finish. Abundant but exquisitely filigreed tannins lend a sense of classicism and proportion to a wine that might otherwise be flamboyant. As I wrote from barrel, it's the quintessential Figeac, testament to the late Thierry Manoncourt's vision to plant such a large proportion of Cabernet, and on drought-resistant rootstocks. Such is the inherent complexity of Figeac's terroirs that harvest took place sub-block by sub-block between September 1st and 25th. Could the result be a contemporary version of the estate's magical 1949? James Suckling 99: Deep nose with graphite, gravel, dark hazelnut chocolate, blackberries, blueberries and truffles. Really taut and tense on the palate with fresh, vibrating tannins and a very long, chalky finish. Compact. 35% merlot, 34% cabernet franc and 31% cabernet sauvignon. Lots of vibrancy and muscled tension here from an extremely hot and dry year. Drink from 2029 when the wood spices get more integrated. Vinous 98: The 2022 Figeac, bottled on July 20th, has an intense nose that, as I observed out of barrel, leans more toward the Left than Right Bank, despite a slightly lower percentage of Cabernet Sauvignon. It has wonderful delineation with black fruit, pine and a light graphite note that runs through from start to finish. A touch of incense emerges with time. The palate is medium-bodied with fine tannins. It is still firmly on the Left Bank stylistically, with gentle grip and a stony aftertaste. The fruit will come back with bottle age, which you can see by comparing tastings in late November 2024 and then at the end of January 2025. 2025 Wine Advocate 97-99: The 2025 Figeac shows exceptional potential, unwinding in the glass with aromas of ripe cherries and minty blackberries mingled with sweet spices, pencil lead and burning embers. Medium- to full-bodied, dense and deep, with terrific concentration, sweet tannins, bright acids and a long, penetrating finish, this integrated and balanced Figeac is a serious wine, built for the long haul. Fully 90% of production went into the grand vin this year, and it's a blend of 38% Merlot, 30% Cabernet Franc and 32% Cabernet Sauvignon. - William Kelley James Suckling 96-97: A dense yet open-grained red. It’s layered, with dusty tannins that give it a velvety texture and a medium- to full-bodied palate with plum, currant and cedar flavors. Juicy. 13% alcohol. Merlot, cabernet franc and cabernet sauvignon. - James Suckling Vinous 96-98: The 2025 Figeac was cropped at 25 hl/ha between 1 and September, matured entirely in new oak as usual. The Cabernet components shape the aromatics at the moment, with a mixture of blackberry and wild strawberry fruit, touches of tobacco and dark powdered chocolate, all very precise and, if anything, remarkably understated considering the warmth of that summer. The palate is medium-bodied with very fine, slightly granular tannins. Darker fruit than normal, nicely structured, linear and correct, this is a Figeac that veers towards the more elegant side in Saint-Émilion. Just a touch of bitterness on the finish neatly counterbalances the contained opulence. If it ends up at the top of my banded score, I would not be surprised. 13.1% alcohol. - Neal Martin Decanter 98: Vivid colour in the glass with absolutely gorgeous perfumed aromas, almost sweet purple flowers and blackcurrants. Really vibrant and expressive, so alive with a touch of medicinal herbal eucalyptus too plus blue fruit and cola. Creamy and soft straight away, silky smooth and so juicy, this is bursting with life and juiciness — such a pure and happy wine. Really focused, precise and detailed with absolute clarity but silky, finely structured tannins. Pure happiness in a glass. Super drinkable, a fabulous wine — succulent with the perfect tannin feel, creamy, velvety and really softly chalky on the finish with a cool mint and cola element that lingers. I love the construction and elegance here. Pure refinement without being too strict or tight. Similar to 2023 in terms of freshness. Perfection. Intense but not showing off, nothing out of place – a showstopper that is perfectly ripe with perfect acidity. 3.66pH. A yield of 25hl/ha. 90% grand vin. 8% press wine. - Georgina Hindle Show more