Learn everything about Chateau Figeac St. Emilion, Premier Cru Classe A, with wine tasting notes and wine with food pairing tips. Learn all the best vintages, the history of the property, and information on the vineyards and winemaking. If you want to read about other important, Bordeaux Chateaux: Links to all Bordeaux Wine Producer Profiles
Chateau Figeac History, Overview
Chateau Figeac is not an old Bordeaux vineyard. Figeac is an ancient Bordeaux vineyard! In fact, the genesis of the estate can be dated as far back as the second century during the ancient Gallo-Roman period. At that time, the owner of the property, Figeacus gave his name to the villa he built in the same location.
Even the ancient Romans knew Figeac had great terroir. Figeac is one of the few St. Emilion wine vineyards that has remained continually occupied for the past two thousand years.
If you’re visiting Chateau Figeac, you can easily see a water supply system that dates back to the days of the ancient Romans. There are also remains of building foundations, ruins from the Middle Ages, and even defensive walls along with the remnants of the original Renaissance chateau at Figeac.
The Renaissance stylings are easily noted in the famous door and the tower. The genesis of the chateau was built in 1586 by Raymond de Cazes. The current chateau was constructed in 1780.
In 1661, through marriage, the estate passed to the Carles family was renamed Chateau Carle Figeac. By the late 18th century, Chateau Figeac had already been owned by descendants of the de Cazes family for almost five centuries! By that time, the vineyards of Figeac had grown to a massive 200 hectares.
Much of the growth came from a major expansion headed by Elie de Carle before the French Revolution. Elie de Carle also owned what we know of as Chateau Clos Fourtet as well. At 200 hectares, Figeac was one of the largest Bordeaux vineyards in the entire appellation. That is not the case today.
Over the years, numerous owners have bought and sold different parcels and plots. This is the explanation as to why so many different chateaux in the region have Figeac in their name. The vineyards of Figeac were sold over a long period of time during the early 17th century and beyond, which led to the creation of several other Saint Emilion estates.
Portions of the land were also purchased by neighboring Pomerol producers like Chateau La Conseillante. One of the largest sections of Figeac was sold to the Ducasse family who used the land for Chateau Cheval Blanc.
By the time Figeac was purchased by Andre Villepigue from the Chevremont family in 1892, the 200-hectare vineyard had dwindled to only 37 hectares of vines. Thierry Manoncourt took over managing the property starting in 1946. His first year at the estate was on a trial basis.
Chateau Figeac The Modern Age
In 1947, Thierry Manoncourt took control of the property and never looked back. He was the first in his family to live at the estate. Born in Paris, Thierry Manoncourt earned a degree in agronomy. He was one of the founders of the Bordeaux Grand Crus Union. He was president of the Jurade of Saint Emilion from 1964 to 1987. Thierry Manoncourt was as traditional as he was innovative. When he completely renovated the cellars and wine-making facilities.
Thierry Manoncourt made the then-bold move of having Figeac be the first major estate in the Right Bank to use temperature-controlled, stainless steel vats in the fermentation room. This took place in 1971. It was also the idea of Thierry Manoncourt to have Chateau Figeac become the first important estate in the Right Bank to produce a second wine.
Thierry Manoncourt passed away Friday, August 27, 2010, at his beloved Chateau Figeac, located in St. Emilion. One of the last of the old guards, he was only a few days shy of his 93rd birthday. Funeral services were held in Saint Emilion.
The wine of Chateau Figeac went through a period of making wine not up to the quality of its terror over the past several decades. It can be argued that Figeac was not up to par since the great 1964.
Following the reclassification of St. Emilion in 2013, when Figeac lobbied but did not come close to receiving its much, sought-after promotion to Premier Cru Classe A status, Figeac made steps to improve its wines, image, and position on the marketplace.
The first step in the right direction for the resurgence of Chateau Figeac was the hiring of the wine consultant, Michel Rolland and Jean Valmy Nicolas of Chateau La Conseillante. Bringing in Michel Rolland sparked controversy, as the wine of Chateau Figeac has a very traditional fan base.
Having tasted 2012, and 2013 where Michel Rolland assisted in the blending, the wine is clearly better. And let me set the record straight, the 2015 Figeac is mind-blowing! The difference in the wines was especially noticeable in the mid-palate, density, and texture.
The next decision was to retire the previous director, who managed Chateau Figeac since 1988, Eric d’Aramon. This was a difficult move as Eric d’Aramon was the son-in-law of Thierry Manoncourt. d’Aramon was replaced by Frederic Faye as the director at the behest of Madame Marie-France Manoncourt.
Once Frederic Faye was firmly in place, he made a few, other important changes. In the barrel cellars, he installed new temperature-controlled units with ventilation. The following year the chateau modernized its cellars, removed its older pumps, and started moving everything by gravity flow.
His next efforts were in the vineyards, with additional planting of Cabernet Sauvignon vines that were hoped would be a better fit for the warm, gravel soils.
In 2015, Chateau Figeac started a major renovation and modernization of the cellars that allowed for the complete plot-by-plot vinification which was finished completed in 2018.
The best vintages of Chateau Figeac are: 2023, 2022, 2021, 2020, 2019, 2018, 2017, 2016, 2015, 2012, 2010, 2009, 1998, 1990, 1982, 1964, 1961, 1959, 1955, 1950, 1949, 1947 and 1945. Figeac went through a difficult period from 1990 to 2008 when several vintages were made in a lighter style.
Starting in 2009, things began to turn around with 2012 and the 2015 Figeac was a contender for the best wine made in the history of the estate! That is until the mind-blowing 2016 was produced! Considering all the great older vintages, that is really saying something.
In 2021, Chateau Figeac completed a multi-year renovation to their now, state-of-the-art cellars. In 2022, Chateau Figeac was promoted from Premier Grand Cru Classe B to Premier Grand Cru Classe!
Chateau Figeac Vineyards, Terroir, Grapes, Winemaking
The 42-hectare vineyard of Chateau Figeac is planted to 35% Cabernet Franc, 35% Cabernet Sauvignon and 30% Merlot. The increase in the Cabernet Sauvignon marks a change in the vineyard. Those plantings make Figeac one of the most unique vineyards in the Right Bank.
The preponderance of both types of Cabernet in the vineyard and in the wine can often make Figeac a difficult wine to taste En Primeur. Figeac often needs a few extra months for the blend to really come together and show its potential.
Located in the northwest portion of St. Emilion. The vineyards of Figeac are divided into several, separate parcels. The average vine density in the vineyards of Chateau Figeac is 6,000 vines per hectare in the newer plantings. Older vines are at 5,500 vines per hectare.
They have old vines. In fact, the oldest vines belonging to Chateau Figeac are now close to 100 years of age! On average, they are 45 years of age. Interestingly, many of the estate vines were personally planted by Thierry Manoncourt with some help from Madame Marie France Manoncourt.
As we mentioned earlier, the vineyards of Chateau Figeac are planted to different proportions from what you can find in any other Saint Emilion vineyard, and in all of Bordeaux as well. In part, this has a lot to do with the unique fine, gravel-based soils. This terroir is uncommon in the Right Bank with its gravel, quartz, iron, clay, and sand soils.
Figeac is situated in the graves region of Saint Emilion, which takes its name as you might guess, from the gravel in the soil. There are 5 gravel hillsides in this area, and 3 of those hills are at Figeac.
The 3 gravel ridges that make up the vineyard also play a pivotal role in the terroir, and thus the character and style of the wine. The gravel affords natural drainage and offers the perfect home for its unique varietal makeup.
At their peak, they reach 38 meters at the top of the slopes. The ridges run north to south, affording a southern exposure. You find most of their Cabernet Sauvignon on the gravel plateaus and the Cabernet Franc, further down the slopes.
As you travel east, you find more clay. If you head west, the soil is lighter, with more sand. More than 50% of the vines are farmed organically. In 2009, the estate started its own massale selection program taken from the oldest vines from each of the three grape varieties in the vineyard.
It should be noted that along with Chateau Cheval Blanc, Chateau Figeac is one of the few great terroirs of Saint Emilion not situated on the limestone-based soils of the cotes. Interestingly, until the 1950s, the vineyard of Chateau Figeac maintained close to 5% Malbec. There was also a tiny portion of Petit Verdot planted in the vineyards until 1956.
All those vines were eventually removed. The vineyard, located close to Chateau Cheval Blanc and Pomerol, with its gravelly terroir explains in part, why Figeac is able to produce such an elegant wine.
However, the entire estate is not reserved for vines. They have a massive garden replete with a myriad of flowers. There is a lake with swans, geese, and ducks located behind the personal family home. This is truly a unique oasis in Saint Emilion.
Chateau Figeac Winemaking
To produce the wine of Chateau Figeac, vinification takes place in a combination of 20 large, temperature-controlled, stainless steel tanks and large, open-top wood vats. The vats are divided as follows, 12 are stainless steel and 10 are large, open-top, conical-shaped oak tanks.
This allows for a parcel by parcel vinification. Since 2009, malolactic fermentation takes place in barrels. Chateau Figeac is then aged in 100% new, French oak barrels for between 14 to 18 months before bottling.
The blend of Chateau Figeac most often relied on equal portions of Merlot, Cabernet Franc, and Cabernet Sauvignon in the past. Today, that is no longer the case.
The blend varies from vintage to vintage, depending on the character of the year, and how each separate grape variety performed.
The average annual production of Chateau Figeac is close to 10,000 cases per vintage. There is a second wine, La Grange Neuve de Figeac which made it’s debut with the 1945 vintage.
Here’s a nice fact for you, Thierry Manoncourt was the first Right Bank producer to create a second wine. In 2013, the second wine was renamed Petit Figeac. In 2014, the estate became to first Saint Emilion property to inspect each cork, before bottling.
When to Drink Chateau Figeac, Anticipated Maturity, Decanting Time
Chateau Figeac is much better with at least 12-15 years of aging in good vintages. Young vintages can be decanted for 2-3 hours or more. This allows the wine to soften and open its perfume.
Older vintages might need very little decanting, just enough to remove the sediment. Chateau Figeac offers its best drinking and should reach peak maturity between 12-40 years of age after the vintage.
Serving Decanting Chateau Figeac with Wine and Food Pairings
Chateau Figeac is best served at 15.5 degrees Celsius, 60 degrees Fahrenheit. The cool, almost cellar temperature gives the wine more freshness and lift.
Chateau Figeac is best paired with all types of classic meat dishes, veal, pork, beef, lamb, duck, game, roast chicken, roasted, braised, and grilled dishes. Chateau Figeac is also good when matched with Asian dishes, and rich fish courses like tuna, mushrooms, and pasta.
In addition to Figeac, the Manoncourt family owns 2 other small estates in Saint Emilion, Chateau La Fleur Pourret, which comes from 4.5 hectares of vines located not far from the village of St. Emilion, and Chateau de Millery, which is produced from a tiny 1-hectare parcel of vines in the eastern portion of the appellation in the commune of Saint Christophe des Bardes.
Château Figeac Wine Tasting Notes
49 Vintages 458,889 Views Sort by Vintage-Rating
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2023
Château Figeac (St. Émilion Grand Cru)
Just a single swirl brings out the flowers, leaves, tobacco, truffle, black cherry, plums, and black raspberries. From there you discover the medium-bodied, silky, energetic backdrop for all of the black cherries exuding their gorgeous sense of purity. There are no hard edges. This is the quintessential definition of elegance. For history buffs, this is the 130th vintage under the ownership of the Manoncourt family. The wine blends 41% Merlot, 32% Cabernet Franc, and 37% Cabernet Sauvignon. 5% Press wine. 13.5% ABV, 3.68 pH, 5% press wine. The key to the vintage was two green harvests and finding the best picking dates, which encompass a long wait for the Cabernets to mature. Picking took place September 6 - October 5. The length of the harvest is due to the 12 day break between the Merlot and the Cabernets. Drink from 2029-2065. 97-99 Pts. 3,747 Views Tasted May 4, 2024 |
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2022
Château Figeac (St. Émilion Grand Cru)
It takes nothing to sense all the intensity, freshness, and depth here. But, more importantly, it is the character. The wine is sensuous, sultry, and lively. The fruits are drenched in cashmere, and velvet that caresses your palate. The levels of depth, richness, opulence, and vibrancy must be felt to be believed. The finish, with its seemingly endless waves of black, blue, and red fruits, with their natural spiciness and purity is off the hook. The seamless finish looks at the 60 second mark, and keeps on going! This is the first vintage for Chateau Figeac as Premier Cru Classe A. With this wine, it is clear they deserve it. The wine blends 35% Merlot, 34% Cabernet Franc, and 31% Cabernet Sauvignon. 8% Press wine. 14% ABV, 3.7 pH. Picking took place September 1 - September 26. This is the earliest harvest in the history of Figeac. Yields were 34 hectoliters per hectare. Drink from 2027-2065. 98-100 Pts. 4,910 Views Tasted May 8, 2023 |
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2021
Château Figeac (St. Émilion Grand Cru)
Floral, energetic, and fresh, this is the perfect example of elegance and class. The nose, with its bouquet of flowers is made even better with the addition of cigar wrappers, mint, cherries, plums, black raspberries, cocoa and espresso. The medium-bodied palate is fresh, with layers of red, and dark red fruits, refined-textures, and a finish with length, purity, and a salty savory, minty endnote. This is a perfect example of a modern classic wine blending 40% Cabernet Sauvignon, 31% Cabernet Franc and 29% Merlot. Drink from 2026-2055. 1,588 Views Tasted Mar 9, 2024Violets, roses, cigar wrapper, espresso, cherries, plums, blackberries and currants create the attention-seeking perfume. Lively and fresh, the wine is perfectly balanced between its elegant nature, vibrant red fruits, silky textures, length and purity. The fruit has a sweetness along with salinity that is impossible to miss. The wine is a slow build on your palate. So you do not notice it at first. But with an intake of air, the wine begins slowly expanding in the finish. This is a perfect example of a modern classic wine blending 40% Cabernet Sauvignon, 31% Cabernet Franc and 29% Merlot. 13% ABV, 3.65% pH. The harvest took place September 21 - October 19, making 2021 not only one of the longest harvests in the history of the estate, but also one of the latest vintages they have ever recorded. Both choices were the key to the vintages success here. Of equal importance, 2021 marks the debut vintage for the estate's new, state-of-the-art cellars. Drink from 2026-2055. 95-97 3,220 Views Tasted May 20, 2022 |
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2021
Château Petit-Figeac (St. Émilion Grand Cru)
Floral, racy, fresh, bright, red cherries with savory accents of herbs, cedar and tobacco, the wine is medium-bodied, sweet, refined, elegant, and already delicious. Feel free to pop a cork on release for its vibrant, red cherry, and kirsch profile. Drink from 2024-2034. 1,249 Views Tasted Mar 9, 2024 |
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2020
Château Figeac (St. Émilion Grand Cru)
The purity, elegance, refinement, and walls of perfectly ripe, sweet, sensuous fruits are almost off the charts here! Aromatically, the floral bouquet with accents of espresso, black plums, cherries, black raspberries, spice, licorice, and wet earth can keep any taster busy for ages. But the magic really hits you when the wine begins caressing your palate with its opulent, luscious, silky, velvet-drenched layers of fruit, and freshness which steals the show. The seamless, 60-second plus finish is riveting, inspiring you to go back for another sniff, swirl, and sip for the pleasure of it. I do not often drink when tasting. But we finished every drop of this bottle. This is a serious candidate for triple-digit perfection after a decade of aging. Drink from 2027-2065. 10,579 Views Tasted Mar 21, 2023Roses, tobacco leaf, oak, black raspberries, spice, black currants and plum aromas are all over the place. Incredibly silky on the palate, the wine is fresh and focused on its purity and precision. Elegant, gentle and refined, the sweet, ripe cherries come in waves, building in length and intensity from the mid-palate through the finish, which lasts almost 50 seconds. The wine is effortless to drink. This should age and evolve for decades. The wine blends 37% Merlot, 32% Cabernet Franc and 31% Cabernet Sauvignon, 13.9% ABV, 3.7 pH. Picking took place September 4, October1, making it one of the longest harvests in the history of the estate. 97-99 Pts 8,088 Views Tasted May 20, 2021 |
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2019
Château Figeac (St. Émilion Grand Cru)
Not quite at the level of the over the moon 2016, but not too far either, this sublime gem is almost opaque in color. This is so concentrated, silky, rich and decadent, it's almost off the charts. Blackberry, espresso, black currants, licorice, flowers and wet earth with cherry blossoms crowd into the perfume. Fresh, vibrant, lively and structured to age and evolve for decades, the wine ends with waves of perfectly ripe, vibrant, red and black fruits that simply do not want to quit! Drink from 2035-2060. 10,572 Views Tasted Mar 29, 2022Beautifully dark, almost purple/garnet in color, the wine gets you going with its nose of flowers, blackberry, dark plums, spice, smoke, vanilla, cherries, licorice and tobacco leaf. As good as that is, when the wine hits your palate, the show starts with its majestic textures. Voluptuous, opulent and silky, the wine seeks attention, but it's not loud, it's discreet. Classic and yet, voluminous, the flamboyant palate-coating finish, with its multiple layers of fruit stays with you for close to 60 seconds. The wine was made from a classic blend of 36% Cabernet Franc, 34% Cabernet Sauvignon and 30% Merlot reaching 14.1% ABV with a pH of 3.7 and is aging in 100% new, French oak barrels. The harvest took place September 13 - October 7. 97-99 Pts 11,263 Views Tasted Jun 8, 2020 |
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2019
Château Petit-Figeac (St. Émilion Grand Cru)
Medium-bodied, soft, fresh, forward, and already just great to taste due to all the ripe, sweet, red plums, cherries, flowers, earth and herbs. Silky, refined and ready to go, you can enjoy this on release or age it for more complexity. Drink from 2022-2032. 3,252 Views Tasted Mar 29, 2022 |
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2018
Château Figeac (St. Émilion Grand Cru)
Inky dark in color, the wine offers a new aromatic display featuring nutmeg, spice, espresso, blackberry, black cherry, and cigar box notes. Opulent, velvety, rich, and deep, the fruit comes in layers, coating your palate. The salinity in the finish stands out in the long series of endnotes. With the 2018, you need patience, so wait at least 5-6 more years and enjoy the wine over the next 30 or more years after that! The wine blends 37% Merlot, 33% Cabernet Sauvignon and 30% Cabernet Franc. Drink from 2028-2060. 6,511 Views Tasted Jul 8, 2022Almost at the level of the perfect 2016, this gorgeous wine sports an inky dark hue with a complex aromatic profile of flowers, licorice, herbs, black with red fruits and espresso bean. The wine shows a beautiful sense of purity in the fruit that expresses itself best in its concentrated, velvet textured, sumptuous, silky, sensuous palate. This stunning wine requires at least a decade before it is ready for the start of its prime time drinking window. The wine was made from a blend of 37% Merlot, 33% Cabernet Sauvignon and 30% Cabernet Franc. 6,038 Views Tasted Mar 9, 2021Pitch black in color with purple accents, my glass seemed like it was packed with an orchard of berries! The fruit pops from the get go. Blackberry, smoke, licorice, flowers and earthy black plums are impossible to avoid. And why would you want to miss out on all this complexity? Everything is in balance here as the volume is matched by the freshness and level of purity in the fruit. And to top things off, the tannins are incredibly velvety. The fruit coats your palate in all the right ways with a finish that never wants to leave. The wine was made from a blend of 37% Merlot, 33% Cabernet Sauvignon and 30% Cabernet Franc. The wine reached 14% ABV and the picking took place from September 17 to October 12. 98-100 Pts 5,520 Views Tasted Apr 19, 2019 |
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2018
Château Petit-Figeac (St. Émilion Grand Cru)
Red berries, cigar wrapper, espresso and earthy notes create the perfume. The wine is medium-bodied, sweet, refined elegant and lifted, with a cherry filled, supple textured finish. This is ready to go and is perfect to enjoy while waiting for the Grand Vin to develop. 3,529 Views Tasted Mar 9, 2021 |
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2017
Château Figeac (St. Émilion Grand Cru)
Earthy fruits, tobacco leaves, black plums, cigar box, and dark red currants are found in the nose and on the palate. The wine is bright, crisp, and savory, with a classic, firm edge, and a savory, chalky finish. Give this some time in the cellar to soften and flesh out. Drink from 2029-2055. 4,147 Views Tasted Jul 8, 2022The wine is richly textured, dark in color, showing purity of fruit with weight and density. Flowers, dark plums and black raspberry aromatics prevail with an extra nuance of licorice and wet earth. Everything here comes alive with a bit of coaxing. Full-bodied, the wine offers its fruit without much effort. There is length, freshness and soft polished textures in the finish. The wine was made from a blend of 47% Cabernet Sauvignon, 43% Merlot and 10% Cabernet Franc, reaching 13.5% ABV with a pH of 3.66. Due to the frost yields were quite low this year, producing only 22 hectoliters per hectare. 3,481 Views Tasted Apr 26, 2018 |
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2016
Château Figeac (St. Émilion Grand Cru)
Heart-stopping from start to finish, here you have a wealth of perfectly ripe, silky fruits that come in non-stop waves and layers. Purity, silkiness, energy, and cashmere tannins with a seamless finish that easily breaks the 60-second mark and keeps on going. This is one of those special wines that is destined to become a legend in a decade or two. If you have some in your cellar, you are sitting on liquid gold. If you do not have any, and if you have disposable income, grab a few bottles or a case. Drink from 2026-2060. The wine was made by blending 38% Cabernet Sauvignon, 26% Merlot, and 26% Cabernet Franc. Drink from 2026-2060. 10,163 Views Tasted Jul 8, 2022Still looking like a barrel sample, the wine shows off a bouquet of flowers, black plums, smoke, licorice, coffee bean, wet earth and cherry. Full-bodied, rich, silky, velvety, long and frankly, this is just a joy to feel on your palate. The wine is sensuous, opulent and yet, remains focused on the freshness and purity of the fruit at its core. This is stunning in every sense of the word. If you score a bottle, try it within a year or so, else age it for 12 or more years. This is another 1949 in the making! The wine was made from blending 38% Cabernet Sauvignon, 26% Merlot and 26% Cabernet Franc. 11,188 Views Tasted Sep 21, 2019Knocking on the door of 100 Pts, this leaves you speechless. The wine offers mouth coating layers of silk and velvet drenched fruit. The wine combines, lift, opulence and length, with a finish that sticks with you for close to 60 seconds. This is a contender for wine of the vintage! 12,527 Views Tasted May 21, 2018A great blend of density and supple, sensuous textures, velvety tannins and continuous waves of sweet, ripe, pure boysenberry, black cherry, licorice and chocolate. The fruit is very precise. The sweetness and purity is complimented by vibrant acidity and there is mouth-coating fruit that's fresh from start to finish. It’s often easy for me to choose a favorite vintage between 2015 and 2016 but not here. This is sublime! From a blend of 38% Cabernet Sauvignon, 36% Merlot and 26% Cabernet Franc, the wine reached 14% ABV with a pH of 3.67 and will be aged in 100% new French oak for 18 months. The picking took place September 23 to October 20. The Grand Vin represents 60% of the harvest. 10,043 Views Tasted Apr 29, 2017 |
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2015
Château Figeac (St. Émilion Grand Cru)
Almost opaque in color, the wine is packed with seemingly endless layers of black plums, cherries, sea salt, flowers, espresso, Cuban cigar, flowers, tobacco leaf, and spice. Full-bodied, rich, opulent, and intense, the velvet-textured finish builds and expands with fruits that move from black to blue to red adding complexity and sapidité. Drink from 2025-2055. 6,275 Views Tasted Jul 8, 2022Clearly, the first great Figeac of the 21st century, this wine has it all. Mouth-filling, yet light on its feet, the wine is all about the purity of fruit, freshness, elegance, refinement, silky tannins and velvet drenched finish. This is a wine I am thrilled to have in my own cellar! 12,463 Views Tasted Nov 8, 2019This is silky, rich and decadent, it's almost off the charts. Blackberry, licorice, espresso, truffle and pure black cherry aromatics create the bouquet. On the palate this is where the wine really hits the home run! Silky, polished, vibrant, intense and concentrated, the wine expands as it lingers moving from the mid palate to the silky, full bodied, blast of fruit, spice, vibrancy and dark fruits. The velvet textured finish stays on your palate for over 50 seconds with all its deep, dark, perfectly ripe fruits. This should age for 30-50 years without trouble. There are wines you want to have in your cellar and there are wines you want your friends to cellar as well, and this is one of those wines. 9,325 Views Tasted May 21, 2018I really liked this in barrel, but I am loving it in bottle. WOW! This is stunning! There are wines you want to have in your cellar and there are wines you want your friends to cellar as well, and this is one of those wines. This is silky, rich and decadent, it's almost off the charts. The wine offers purity f fruit, length, concentration, character and complexity. The velvet textured finish sticks with you for more than 50 seconds with all its deep, dark, perfectly ripe, sweet red sensuously textured fruits. This should age for 30-50 years with no trouble. 8,311 Views Tasted Mar 12, 2018Intensity, concentration, complexity, character and length. The wine offers finesse, silky tannins and purity in its red berry, velvet textured fruits. This should age effortlessly for 3 decades or more. OK, this is not your grandmother's Figeac, and that's just fine. I love my grandmother, but this is a better wine! 9,076 Views Tasted Jan 17, 2018This was the best wine ever produced at Figeac, until they made the 2016. But that should not take anything away from this stunner. Lusciously textured, hedonistic, fragrant and complex, the wine has everything needed to hit the top, or surpass my initial score range.. 8,676 Views Tasted Jul 12, 2017I loved this wine! I really liked it during the April tastings, but in just a few short months, the wine has morphed into one of the top wines of the vintage! It has put on weight, the tannins are pure velvet and the finish sticks with you for close to 60 seconds. If you have been thinking about buying the wine, pick up a few bottles, it is really off the hook. Clearly this is the best wine produced at the estate since the great era of Figeac in the 40's & 50s! 97-99 Pts 14,843 Views Tasted Jul 5, 2016This wine displays the darkest hue of any Figeac vintage I recall seeing. The nose, with its floral, gravel, tobacco, earth and spearmint profile, is a real treat. On the palate, the wine offers a fresh, vibrant blast of perfectly ripe, sweet, blackberry, boysenberry, plum and a dash of cocoa. The tannins are silky with good concentration, freshness and purity of fruit. Interestingly, the wine does not seem like it’s going to last on your palate, but it surprises you, as it just keeps going and going until morning, with a sweet climax of juicy plum, licorice and cigar wrapper notes. Clearly, the best Figeac in years. From a blend of 43% Cabernet Sauvignon, 29% Merlot, and 28% Cabernet Franc, the wine reached 14% ABV with a pH of 3.75. The wine will be aged in 100% new, French oak for 18 months. The picking took place September 21 to October 15 and the Grand Vin was produced from 65% of the harvest. 8,494 Views Tasted Apr 29, 2016 |
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2015
Château Petit-Figeac (St. Émilion Grand Cru)
From 48% Cabernet Sauvignon, 32% Merlot and 20% Cabernet Franc comes a medium-bodied, licorice, cherry and earthy wine with freshness, soft, sweet fruits and early drinkability. 3,607 Views Tasted Apr 29, 2016 |
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2014
Château Figeac (St. Émilion Grand Cru)
Medium bodied, finesse styled, elegant wine with tobacco, coffee and plums. Classic in style, with soft tannins, silky textures and bright, spicy, earthy red fruits are easily available in the finish. 8,219 Views Tasted May 24, 2017Deep in color, the first thing you notice is the gravel scents that move to blackberry, tobacco and cigar box aromas. There is richness and concentration, refined but present tannin, mineral drive and a dark berry finish. From a blend of 40% Merlot, 32% Cabernet Sauvignon and 28% Cabernet Franc, the wine reached 13% ABV and will be aged in 100% new, French oak for 18 months. The yields were 33 hectoliters per hectare. 93-94 Pts 5,570 Views Tasted Apr 27, 2015 |
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2013
Château Figeac (St. Émilion Grand Cru)
Medium bodied, finesse styled, elegant wine with a focus on fresh, sweet, red fruits, softness and floral accents. Give this a few years and it could be even better as it continues to fill out. Part of the reason for the success of the wine in this difficult year was the increased percentage of Cabernet Sauvignon in the blend. In fact, with 50% of the blend devoted to Cabernet Sauvignon, this vintage holds the record for the most Cabernet ever used in the history of Figeac. 4,870 Views Tasted May 25, 2016Ruby in color, with a nose of chocolate, coffee bean and raspberries, the wine is medium bodied, soft, bright and completed by sweet, fresh cherries. From a blend of 50% Cabernet Sauvignon, (The highest percentage of Cabernet Sauvignon used in over 30 years!) 30% Merlot and 20% Cabernet Franc, the wine reached 13% ABV with a pH of 3.7. The wine is aging in 100% new French oak. I am not sure why there is so much muss, fuss and fear over bringing in Michel Rolland. The team of Rolland and Frederic Faye are clearly helping the estate as this is a very successful wine for the vintage. Far too many writers and consumers should not live in the past. They should actually taste the wines before deciding on if they like a wine, or not. It will be interesting to see what happens at Figeac when the next great vintage arrives. 90-92 Pts 3,280 Views Tasted Apr 28, 2014 |
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2012
Château Figeac (St. Émilion Grand Cru)
Medium-bodied, vibrant, fresh, and floral, with a cedar and tobacco edge to the ripe, lifted red fruits and rounded texture on the palate. Drink from 2022-2034. 2,497 Views Tasted Sep 25, 2022The first vintage blended with Michel Rolland shows licorice, stone, fresh dark berries, cigar box and a hint of oak, with a sweet, dark chocolate, round plum character. 5,759 Views Tasted May 15, 2015From a blend of blend of 40% Merlot, 40% Cabernet Franc and 20% Cabernet Sauvignon. This is a different style for Figeac. Much of the credit goes to the bringing in Michel Rolland and Valmy Nicolas from Chateau La Conseillante in Pomerol. This is the first vintage where Michel Rolland was involved in the blending. Notes of truffle, earth, coffee bean, licorice and spicy berry notes opened to a silky, round, supple textured, elegant wine, filled with ripe, sweet, plums and black raspberries. 92-94 Pts 4,835 Views Tasted Apr 26, 2013 |
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2011
Château Figeac (St. Émilion Grand Cru)
Showing much better with bottle age than it did in the barrel, the wine expresses tobacco leaf, flowers, and vibrant, crisp red fruits with a leafy, spicy edge. Medium-bodied, with a lifted, energetic finish, this is now entering its prime-time, drinking window. Drink from 2022-2035. 3,017 Views Tasted Jul 8, 2022With equal parts Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and Merlot, the wine reached 13% ABV. Aged in 100% new oak, forest floor, stone, red berry and leafy aromas open to a medium-bodied, tannic, red berry-dominated St. Emilion. There is some dryness in the kirsch finish. 88-90 Pts 3,182 Views Tasted Apr 24, 2012 |
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2010
Château Figeac (St. Émilion Grand Cru)
Elegant, refined, fresh, and vibrant, the wine opens with roses, cigar wrappers, forest leaves, red plums, and black cherries. Soft, lifted and with a good sense of balance, harmony, length, and purity, the wine has just entered the start of its drinkability period. Drink from 2022-2050. 4,364 Views Tasted Nov 3, 2022Fresh herbs, dark ripe berries, licorice, cassis and green peppercorn aromas fill the perfume. Full bodied, tannic and slightly austere in character, with intensity, licorice and bright black cherry flavors, this is a successful vintage for the traditionally styled Figeac. 92-94 Pts 4,572 Views Tasted Apr 22, 2011 |
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2009
Château Figeac (St. Émilion Grand Cru)
Balancing opulence with balance, lift and complexity, this is drinking beautifully today. Its soaring aromatics serve up mint, sweet red fruits, smoke, spice and flowers. Silky, sensuous and long on the opiate, this is the best vintage of Figeac until the incredible non-stop run beginning with 2015. Drink from 2024-2045. 3,142 Views Tasted Jan 5, 2024This is one of those wines that prove the old adage about patience being a virtue. Over the years this gem has steadily improved, adding weight, sensuality, and complexity. Medium-bodied, with an edge to the nose over the palate, you enjoy a wealth of a myriad of silky, creamy-textured red, and dark red fruits on the palate and in the finish. I like how this is showing today. Drink from 2022-2042. 3,522 Views Tasted Sep 25, 2022Forward, silky, soft, medium-bodied and already a pleasure to drink, the floral, cherry, thyme, tobacco leaf and wet earthy nuances are already blooming here. 4,645 Views Tasted Sep 20, 2019Young, as expected, but clearly a beauty, with its supple, silky, textures, ripe, pure, sweet fruits and aromatic complexities. Hold it for at least another 5-7 years and the wine will just about be hitting its prime time slot. 5,396 Views Tasted Sep 21, 2018The last few years have been good to this wine. It's put on weight, added better, more opulent, rounder textures and gained additional nuances. Lush, silky, refined and character driven, with luck, this will continue moving in the right direction. Still, this is quite young. Another 5-8 more years will add even more to the wine. 6,071 Views Tasted Nov 18, 2017Medium bodied, fresh, supple and soft in texture, the wine offers fresh black cherry, herbs, minerality and earthy scents. Generous for Figeac, the wine ends with soft, fresh, pure, black raspberry and cherry notes. 7,752 Views Tasted Feb 10, 20122009 Figeac opens with notes of blackberries, cassis, minerality, and licorice. The wine finishes with dark berries and spice. 90-93 Pts 6,038 Views Tasted Jun 28, 2010 |
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2008
Château Figeac (St. Émilion Grand Cru)
The nose starts off with truffle, wet earth, leaf, thyme and dried pit fruits. Medium bodied, the tannins are firm, the fruit is bright and earthy. Even though the color shows age and you find secondary aromatics, another 5 years or more in the cellar should help soften the tannins and perhaps add a bit more flesh. 4,740 Views Tasted Sep 17, 2018 |
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2007
Château Figeac (St. Émilion Grand Cru)
With a nose of fresh herbs, spice, dried cherries and earth, this medium bodied St. Emilion wine ended with a red fruit dominated, short finish and some drying sensations. 3,684 Views Tasted Aug 30, 2011 |
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2006
Château Figeac (St. Émilion Grand Cru)
A firm style of Figeac, with an almost austere leaning due to the preponderance of Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc. Better on the nose, with its floral, fresh red berry and earthy leanings, than on the palate. Time could soften the wine, but like many 2006 Right bank wines, it's proobably always going to be a bit stern. 4,852 Views Tasted Oct 22, 2016 |
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2005
Château Figeac (St. Émilion Grand Cru)
Tobacco, with thyme, forest floor, mint and cherries in the nose. The wine is medium bodied, open and delivers a short, finish with some rusticity in the tannins. This style of wine will definitely appeal to tasters seeking out more of a classic style of Bordeaux. 6,822 Views Tasted Jun 28, 2015The traditional, light and austere style made it hard for me to enjoy. I found the wine offering "4 T's." Tight, tannic, tart and traditional. I would have scored the wine much higher if it had been at least a tad tawdry. 10,013 Views Tasted Jan 20, 2008 |
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2004
Château Figeac (St. Émilion Grand Cru)
I like the nose here with its blend of flowers, tobacco, bright red fruits, cigar box and mint. On the palate, the wine is medium-bodied, crisp and crunchy with a lot of bite in the finish. 3,520 Views Tasted Sep 17, 2020 |
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2001
Château Figeac (St. Émilion Grand Cru)
Medium bodied, with a focus on bright red , spice, earth, wet forest scents and a hint of mint. The soft finish is a bit light, but the red cherries are sweet and fresh. 4,192 Views Tasted Oct 18, 2015 |
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2000
Château Figeac (St. Émilion Grand Cru)
Medium bodied and rapidly maturing, the wine is dominated by redd fruits, earth and spice. The bggest drawback is the short, clipped finish. 6,573 Views Tasted Dec 12, 2012With a red and black fruit, herb and licorice nose was light in the palate. The wine did not taste fully ripe and the tannins were drying in the mouth. 9,554 Views Tasted Mar 5, 2010 |
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1998
Château Figeac (St. Émilion Grand Cru)
Fully developed, medium bodied, silky, elegant and fresh, the wine shows sweet, ripe cherries, tobacco and earthy notes on the nose and palate. The fruit is quite charming, and the wine shows a lot of character, but it could be a little weightier. 4,621 Views Tasted Mar 17, 2019 |
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1990
Château Figeac (St. Émilion Grand Cru)
Fully developed, the wine is lush, soft, and aromatic, with notes of flowers, cigar box, wild cherries, forest leaf, and tobacco. There is vibrancy, sweet red fruits, and a touch of mint on the back end. Drink from 2022-2032. 3,123 Views Tasted Oct 26, 2022Fully mature, medium bodied, fresh, with lean to the red fruit side of the style range, the nose is the best part of the wine, with its display of earth, cherries, tobacco, thyme, mint, herbs and spice. Elegant, but more concentrated than light, wiht a soft finish, there is no reason to wait for more development. 5,800 Views Tasted Nov 9, 2014 |
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1989
Château Figeac (St. Émilion Grand Cru)
Medium bodied, elegant, light in color and perhaps a bit light in fruit, still the wine delivers on the earthy, tobacco, floral, plum and cherry nose. On the palate, the wine is elegant and refined, with the patina of age in the texture, and in the finish. Popped and poured was the right way to go with this one. 5,540 Views Tasted Sep 4, 2017 |
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1986
Château Figeac (St. Émilion Grand Cru)
Clearly, it is the Cabernet Sauvignon from the gravels that made this wine possible. Medium bodied, not exactly strict, but it's not going to be called opulent either. Here, you find a straight ahead, classic character with tobacco, cedar, wet earth and red cherries. There is a firm character on the palate and in the finish that is also, refined, and genteel. Fully mature, this requires drinking over the next decade or so 5,261 Views Tasted Mar 24, 2017 |
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1985
Château Figeac (St. Émilion Grand Cru)
Fully mature, medium-bodied, elegant, fresh, refined, soft, and expressing its Cabernet side with loads of mint, forest leaf, and tobacco from start to finish. 3,690 Views Tasted May 30, 2022Fully mature, the wine offers aromatic complexities, soft, silky textures and sweet, ripe, earthy, fresh cherries. This is not a wine however to hold for further aging, so if you have any of this charmer remaining, drink up sooner than later for maximum enjoyment. 3,455 Views Tasted Sep 21, 2018 |
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1983
Château Figeac (St. Émilion Grand Cru)
Medium bodied, the wine shows a soft, silky, polished character with the patina of a much older wine with secondary notes of wet earth, tobacco, leaf, stone, and dried red pit fruits. But the color, texture and nuances gave the appearance of seeming to be much older than its age. This is more than fully developed, so if you have a bottle, you should open it sooner than later. 3,800 Views Tasted Mar 17, 2019 |
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1982
Château Figeac (St. Émilion Grand Cru)
Elegant, complex, floral, earthy and packed with tobacco, mint, and sweet red fruits, the wine offers depth, layers of fruit and a medium-bodied, finesse-styled finish. Drink from 2024-2032. 619 Views Tasted Oct 8, 2024The best bottle of this I've ever tasted, the ripe, almost, port like fruits, with its earth, tobacco and cherry accents, elegant, polished textured and long, sweet, fruit filled, silky finish hit all the right spots. 6,176 Views Tasted May 5, 2016The perfume expresses notes of earth, leather, spice, wood and mint. In the mouth, this medium bodied wine ends with a short finish filled with red and black fruit. 4,025 Views Tasted Dec 20, 2006 |
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1979
Château Figeac (St. Émilion Grand Cru)
On the leafy, herbal, tobacco, and metallic side of the style range, there are more secondary nuances than fruit here as the wine has dropped its fruits and is fading, finishing with piquant red berries, herbs, pepper, and tobacco leaves. Drink from 2023-2023. 3,349 Views Tasted Sep 1, 2023 |
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1978
Château Figeac (St. Émilion Grand Cru)
With a strong lean to its leafy, tobacco, mint, and cedar side of the style range, the wine is soft, smooth, and easy to drink, but much of the fruit has faded morphing into its leafy, herbal character. Drink up. Drink from 2023-2025. 1,911 Views Tasted Sep 1, 2023 |
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1976
Château Figeac (St. Émilion Grand Cru)
Cedar, mint, tobacco, cigar wrapper, spice, dried flowers, and forest leaves with red berries drive the character of this soft-textured, fresh, albeit, short, medium-bodied wine. This is past its prime and if you own any, it needs to be drink up sooner than later. Drink from 2023-2025. 1,703 Views Tasted Sep 1, 2023 |
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1975
Château Figeac (St. Émilion Grand Cru)
Managing to avoid the pitfalls of the difficult 75 vintage, the medium-bodied wine is one of the more elegant, expressions of the vintage. Roes, red fruits, mint leaf, tobacco, spice, and earth combine perfectly, leaving you with a lifted, earthy, leafy, and red-fruited finish. Drink from 2023-2030. 1,990 Views Tasted Sep 1, 2023 |
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1971
Château Figeac (St. Émilion Grand Cru)
Elegant, refined, soft, and verging on delicate, the wine offers its sweet, red fruits, truffle, herbs, spice, flowers, and wet earth core with ease. There is ample fruit, with a beautiful texture to please any palate. Drink from 2023-2033. 1,544 Views Tasted Sep 1, 2023 |
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1970
Château Figeac (St. Émilion Grand Cru)
Medium-bodied, soft, silky, elegant, but not very deep, this is just now starting to fade. So, if you own a bottle, and you want to experience all of its sweet, red pit fruits, dried flowers, tobacco, herbs, and forest leaf, open your bottle sooner than later. Driink 2022-2025. 3,454 Views Tasted Nov 3, 2022Just a bit past its prime, still, there is plenty to like about this aging, graceful beauty. Medium bodied, refined, soft, silky, and with perfume that catches you with its tobacco, wet earth, spice, herbs, thyme and red berry profile. This is not a wine to hold for future development, but it's a nice treat, should you have a bottle in your cellar. 3,346 Views Tasted Sep 21, 2018 |
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1967
Château Figeac (St. Émilion Grand Cru)
On the other side of fading, with much of the fruit gone. Better on the nose, with its mint, tobacco leaf, spice, cigar box, and bright red fruits than on the crisp, rustic, and overly acidic palate, drink up if you have any, as it is only going to get worse from here. Drink from 2022-2022. 2,030 Views Tasted Nov 28, 2022 |
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1966
Château Figeac (St. Émilion Grand Cru)
Medium-bodied, fully mature with a lean to its secondary side with a plethora of tobacco, forest floor, mint, cigar box, spice, dried flowers, and earthy, bright, red fruits on the nose and on its elegant, fresh palate. If you are sitting on a bottle, it is time to drink up. 2,238 Views Tasted Jul 8, 2022Fully mature, the tobacco, cigar box and cedar notes really showed the ripe Cabernet fruits. Earthy, medium bodied, soft and silky, with a red berry core of spicy fruit, there is no reason to age this wine any longer. 4,872 Views Tasted Jul 11, 2016 |
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1964
Château Figeac (St. Émilion Grand Cru)
The best bottle I've tasted of this in ages has it all going on. The perfume explodes with its dried flowers, cigar wrapper, mint, red fruits, and touches of smoke. Vibrant, elegant, lively, concentrated, and refined, the long finish seals the deal. Drink from 2024-2044. 995 Views Tasted Jun 22, 2024Starting to fade, but if the bottle has been well-stored, there is still enough gas in the tank so you can enjoy the earthy, spicy, leafy, tobacco and red plum nose. Medium-bodied, the wine starts off reserved, but with time in the glass, the wine softens, revealing a gentle, but stoic character, finishing with bright red fruits, spice, earth, herbs and sweet plums. There is no reason to hold this any longer. 3,755 Views Tasted Jun 2, 2021Two bottles were opened from an identical, original wood case. The fills were quite good for a wine of this age. The end results were the same for both bottles. While I realize it is about the specific bottle, and not wine with older vintages, especially after 50 years of age, the results were troubling. The wines were the color of dark tea, with some red, brick accents. The nose showed little fruit and the palate was not much better, leaving you with a short, not exactly satisfying finish. Other bottles could be better. But I'd approach buying this with extreme caution as the hands of time have not been very graceful here. 4,727 Views Tasted Oct 17, 2016 |
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1961
Château Figeac (St. Émilion Grand Cru)
Floral, with notes of forest herbs, cigar box, tobacco leaf, mint and red fruits, the wine is medium-bodied, soft, vibrant and spicy, with a kirsch and red plum edged finish. This was simply beautiful from start to finish. This is much better than a recorded bottle I tasted earlier this year. You know what they say, there are no great wine older wines, just great older bottles. 2,764 Views Tasted Apr 6, 2022 |
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1959
Château Figeac (St. Émilion Grand Cru)
The best bottle of this I have ever tasted resonated with its mint and floral charm. Pure silk on the palate made the perfect backdrop for its wealth of cherries, plums, and truffles that gracefully crossed and filled your palate. What a treat! Drink from 2023-2040. 1,680 Views Tasted Sep 1, 2023Elegant, refined, supple and silky, the patina of age comes with floral scents, tobacco, cigar box, cherry pipe tobacco, truffle and coffee notes. As good as the nose is, the sensual nature of the wine on the palate is even better! 3,596 Views Tasted Feb 2, 2020Surprisingly youthful, served double blind, I thought it was 20 years younger. With the silky patina that can only come from age, the wine continues offering earthy red berries, tobacco, herbs and a hint of citrus. What a nice, unexpected treat! 3,629 Views Tasted Mar 24, 2017 |
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1955
Château Figeac (St. Émilion Grand Cru)
Just a stunning tasting experience in every sense of the word. The wine is loaded with an intoxicating perfume of tobacco, cigar box, ash, wet earth, peppery spice and fresh, red fruits. Still vibrant, sweet, pure and refined, this is just a stunner and a privilege to taste. 3,016 Views Tasted Sep 8, 2018 |
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1949
Château Figeac (St. Émilion Grand Cru)
I'd be surprised if this was not my wine of the year. This was majestic and a tasting experience that is hard to believe. From an imperial, opened at the chateau, heartstopping, is the best word to describe it. Layer after layer of perfectly ripe, silky, textured, viscous, elegant cherries and plums topped with flowers, Cuban cigar wrappers, smoke, truffle and kirsch. The finish stuck with you for 60 seconds, or more. The memory lasts a lifetime. This was just a mind-boggling tasting experience. 3,320 Views Tasted Sep 8, 2018 |
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1946
Château Figeac (St. Émilion Grand Cru)
From a large format bottle served at the property, this wine was simply fabulous. The layers of strawberries, cherries, raspberries, and red plums topped with mint, tobacco, spice, smoke, and tobacco leaf hit it right on the nose. Soft, vibrant, crisp, and elegant, with loads of red fruits and cigar notes on the palate and in the finish. This is the best 1946 I have or ever will taste. Good luck finding any. Drink from 2023-2023. 1,432 Views Tasted Sep 1, 2023 |
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1941
Château Figeac (St. Émilion Grand Cru)
Much more interesting on the nose, with its herb, leaf, tobacco, cigar box, smoke, tomato and red berry character. Medium-bodied, with a bite of spicy, crisp red berries, chewing tobacco and herbs on the palate. It is always a nice touch of history tasting war years wines. 2,228 Views Tasted Feb 2, 2020 |
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1929
Château Figeac (St. Émilion Grand Cru)
Now, here is a wine I never thought I'd taste. Sadly, at least with this bottle, the cold hands of time has added its ugly mark. The nose was marred by VA that overpowered the light, floral, tobacco and cherry charms. Silky on the palate, the wine is medium bodied, showing a touch of red fruit, but more notes of Sherry and hints of Balsamic. I bet this was a beauty earlier in life. Still, tasting a wine from the great depression, when Babe Ruth hit 46 Home Runs, the DOW was at 381 and Prohibition was the law of the land, made it a very special treat. 1,834 Views Tasted Mar 9, 2018 |
