France, Bordeaux, Libournais, St. Émilion Grand Cru
All wines tasted blind. A few observations: 1) Compared many other right bank peers, Figeac never fell into the trap of producing very high ripeness/high extraction wines. The low(er) Merlot content plays a role, but the wines clearly speak of a conscious decision of not going there. But in the 2000s the fruit profile is darker and only more recent vintages go back to the beautiful bright red fruit. 2) The hype is real: The level of greatness this winery achieves since the 2015 vintage is stunning. The complexity, delineation, purity and textural depth are miles ahead of what the company produced before. 3) Figeac shows that it is among the 15 best wines produced in Bordeaux today and considering the En Primeur prices, probably only Montrose and Pichon Lalande have an equally good value proposition in this top group. 4) Winner was the 2019 (97pts) with an unmatched purity and depth, ahead of the 2015 (96pts) and a stunning 2018 (96pts) which tells a lot about how well they coped with the hot vintage.
TN: Medium expressive nose with dark berries, smoky minerality and some herbs. Some seductive toasty notes with time in the glass. On the palate quite harmonious with dark berries, herbs and minerality. This is a pleasant wine but without the depth and a slightly to muscular structural frame to achieve a higher rating than the 90/91 pts.
Decanting: Not decanted, no extensive decanting needed.
France, Bordeaux, Libournais, St. Émilion Grand Cru
All wines tasted blind. A few observations: 1) Compared many other right bank peers, Figeac never fell into the trap of producing very high ripeness/high extraction wines. The low(er) Merlot content plays a role, but the wines clearly speak of a conscious decision of not going there. But in the 2000s the fruit profile is darker and only more recent vintages go back to the beautiful bright red fruit. 2) The hype is real: The level of greatness this winery achieves since the 2015 vintage is stunning. The complexity, delineation, purity and textural depth are miles ahead of what the company produced before. 3) Figeac shows that it is among the 15 best wines produced in Bordeaux today and considering the En Primeur prices, probably only Montrose and Pichon Lalande have an equally good value proposition in this top group. 4) Winner was the 2019 (97pts) with an unmatched purity and depth, ahead of the 2015 (96pts) and a stunning 2018 (96pts) which tells a lot about how well they coped with the hot vintage.
TN: Wet cardboard or cork. The only fault wine in the lineup.
France, Bordeaux, Libournais, St. Émilion Grand Cru
All wines tasted blind. A few observations: 1) Compared many other right bank peers, Figeac never fell into the trap of producing very high ripeness/high extraction wines. The low(er) Merlot content plays a role, but the wines clearly speak of a conscious decision of not going there. But in the 2000s the fruit profile is darker and only more recent vintages go back to the beautiful bright red fruit. 2) The hype is real: The level of greatness this winery achieves since the 2015 vintage is stunning. The complexity, delineation, purity and textural depth are miles ahead of what the company produced before. 3) Figeac shows that it is among the 15 best wines produced in Bordeaux today and considering the En Primeur prices, probably only Montrose and Pichon Lalande have an equally good value proposition in this top group. 4) Winner was the 2019 (97pts) with an unmatched purity and depth, ahead of the 2015 (96pts) and a stunning 2018 (96pts) which tells a lot about how well they coped with the hot vintage.
TN: Dark fruit, quite ripe and some very subtle alcohol notes on the nose. On the palate the ripe, fine fruit but not much of it, much more herbs, minerality. Good but the wine doesn’t have a good balance with a too pronounced acidity. Overall this is ok but not good. The fruit has left the building.
Decanting: Not decanted, no extensive decanting needed.
France, Bordeaux, Libournais, St. Émilion Grand Cru
All wines tasted blind. A few observations: 1) Compared many other right bank peers, Figeac never fell into the trap of producing very high ripeness/high extraction wines. The low(er) Merlot content plays a role, but the wines clearly speak of a conscious decision of not going there. But in the 2000s the fruit profile is darker and only more recent vintages go back to the beautiful bright red fruit. 2) The hype is real: The level of greatness this winery achieves since the 2015 vintage is stunning. The complexity, delineation, purity and textural depth are miles ahead of what the company produced before. 3) Figeac shows that it is among the 15 best wines produced in Bordeaux today and considering the En Primeur prices, probably only Montrose and Pichon Lalande have an equally good value proposition in this top group. 4) Winner was the 2019 (97pts) with an unmatched purity and depth, ahead of the 2015 (96pts) and a stunning 2018 (96pts) which tells a lot about how well they coped with the hot vintage.
TN: Slightly toasty notes, dark fruits, some smoky minerality on the medium expressive nose. On the palate quite expressive and intense with fine dark berries, herbs and smoky minerality, hints of toasty notes, some faint tobacco notes. All the earthy aromas are at the center of it all with not exactly enough fruit around it. Very fine and elegant overall with good tension, fine acidity and good length. Quite harmonious and round. This was very good and could have been great with a bit more fruit.
Decanting: Not decanted, a short decant should do the job.
France, Bordeaux, Libournais, St. Émilion Grand Cru
All wines tasted blind. A few observations: 1) Compared many other right bank peers, Figeac never fell into the trap of producing very high ripeness/high extraction wines. The low(er) Merlot content plays a role, but the wines clearly speak of a conscious decision of not going there. But in the 2000s the fruit profile is darker and only more recent vintages go back to the beautiful bright red fruit. 2) The hype is real: The level of greatness this winery achieves since the 2015 vintage is stunning. The complexity, delineation, purity and textural depth are miles ahead of what the company produced before. 3) Figeac shows that it is among the 15 best wines produced in Bordeaux today and considering the En Primeur prices, probably only Montrose and Pichon Lalande have an equally good value proposition in this top group. 4) Winner was the 2019 (97pts) with an unmatched purity and depth, ahead of the 2015 (96pts) and a stunning 2018 (96pts) which tells a lot about how well they coped with the hot vintage.
TN: Dark fruit, quite ripe, almost candied on the nose. Some smoky minerality too. Intriguing. On the palate this shows fine, fresh and round, fine tannins but not much substance. A bit of fruit, herbs and minerality but not not much more. With time the fruit and sweetness go away completely. At first around 90 pts, then less and less with time. A rather weak vintage… but that is hardly a surprise.
Decanting: Not decanted, decanting is not advised, best right after opening.
France, Bordeaux, Libournais, St. Émilion Grand Cru
All wines tasted blind. A few observations: 1) Compared many other right bank peers, Figeac never fell into the trap of producing very high ripeness/high extraction wines. The low(er) Merlot content plays a role, but the wines clearly speak of a conscious decision of not going there. But in the 2000s the fruit profile is darker and only more recent vintages go back to the beautiful bright red fruit. 2) The hype is real: The level of greatness this winery achieves since the 2015 vintage is stunning. The complexity, delineation, purity and textural depth are miles ahead of what the company produced before. 3) Figeac shows that it is among the 15 best wines produced in Bordeaux today and considering the En Primeur prices, probably only Montrose and Pichon Lalande have an equally good value proposition in this top group. 4) Winner was the 2019 (97pts) with an unmatched purity and depth, ahead of the 2015 (96pts) and a stunning 2018 (96pts) which tells a lot about how well they coped with the hot vintage.
TN: Candied red berries, smoky minerality and earthy notes on the medium expressive nose, some bretty notes. On the palate brighter red berries, herbs, crushed rocks, some toasty notes. All in all quite good. With time though, the fruit disappears. The tannins are still noticeable and have some edges but nothing time can’t solve, the acidity is too pronounced, though.
Decanting: Not decanted, decanting is not advised, best right after opening.
France, Bordeaux, Libournais, St. Émilion Grand Cru
All wines tasted blind. A few observations: 1) Compared many other right bank peers, Figeac never fell into the trap of producing very high ripeness/high extraction wines. The low(er) Merlot content plays a role, but the wines clearly speak of a conscious decision of not going there. But in the 2000s the fruit profile is darker and only more recent vintages go back to the beautiful bright red fruit. 2) The hype is real: The level of greatness this winery achieves since the 2015 vintage is stunning. The complexity, delineation, purity and textural depth are miles ahead of what the company produced before. 3) Figeac shows that it is among the 15 best wines produced in Bordeaux today and considering the En Primeur prices, probably only Montrose and Pichon Lalande have an equally good value proposition in this top group. 4) Winner was the 2019 (97pts) with an unmatched purity and depth, ahead of the 2015 (96pts) and a stunning 2018 (96pts) which tells a lot about how well they coped with the hot vintage.
TN: The nose was a bit muted. On the palate there are some red berries, some darker berries, some cedary notes, some crushed rocks. Quite classic in style. Overall pleasant aroma mix but not overly expressive. The frame is not perfect with fine tannins but a slightly too pronounced acidity. A good wine without any exceptionalism.
Decanting: Not decanted. I guess, an hour or two in the decanter could have helped here to open the wine up.
France, Bordeaux, Libournais, St. Émilion Grand Cru
All wines tasted blind. A few observations: 1) Compared many other right bank peers, Figeac never fell into the trap of producing very high ripeness/high extraction wines. The low(er) Merlot content plays a role, but the wines clearly speak of a conscious decision of not going there. But in the 2000s the fruit profile is darker and only more recent vintages go back to the beautiful bright red fruit. 2) The hype is real: The level of greatness this winery achieves since the 2015 vintage is stunning. The complexity, delineation, purity and textural depth are miles ahead of what the company produced before. 3) Figeac shows that it is among the 15 best wines produced in Bordeaux today and considering the En Primeur prices, probably only Montrose and Pichon Lalande have an equally good value proposition in this top group. 4) Winner was the 2019 (97pts) with an unmatched purity and depth, ahead of the 2015 (96pts) and a stunning 2018 (96pts) which tells a lot about how well they coped with the hot vintage.
TN: The first vintage in the lineup with rather dark ripe berries at the center. On the palate there is fresh blue and black fruit, some smoky minerality again, herbs. Missing a bit of charm and aromatic balance. The tannins are noticeable, the acidity is pronounced but overall the balance is still ok but not great.
Decanting: Not decanted, an hour should be enough here.
France, Bordeaux, Libournais, St. Émilion Grand Cru
All wines tasted blind. A few observations: 1) Compared many other right bank peers, Figeac never fell into the trap of producing very high ripeness/high extraction wines. The low(er) Merlot content plays a role, but the wines clearly speak of a conscious decision of not going there. But in the 2000s the fruit profile is darker and only more recent vintages go back to the beautiful bright red fruit. 2) The hype is real: The level of greatness this winery achieves since the 2015 vintage is stunning. The complexity, delineation, purity and textural depth are miles ahead of what the company produced before. 3) Figeac shows that it is among the 15 best wines produced in Bordeaux today and considering the En Primeur prices, probably only Montrose and Pichon Lalande have an equally good value proposition in this top group. 4) Winner was the 2019 (97pts) with an unmatched purity and depth, ahead of the 2015 (96pts) and a stunning 2018 (96pts) which tells a lot about how well they coped with the hot vintage.
TN: Rather green, herbal nose. On the palate pleasant bright fruit, herbs and minerality but the aromatic balance and the structure with a too pronounced acidity are not that good. Half the room liked it much better (see Collector1855’s note) but I found it one of the weaker showings. But no surprise here as not one 2002 could really convince me to date, either they were too extracted or, like this wine, did not show enough fruit/sweetness. The best ones were Cheval Blanc, Ausone and Haut Bailly at 93pts, with limited love for some other heavyweights: Mouton 91pts, Angelus 91pts, Mission 91 pts, Haut Brion 90pts.
Decanting: Not decanted, no extensive decanting needed.
France, Bordeaux, Libournais, St. Émilion Grand Cru
All wines tasted blind. A few observations: 1) Compared many other right bank peers, Figeac never fell into the trap of producing very high ripeness/high extraction wines. The low(er) Merlot content plays a role, but the wines clearly speak of a conscious decision of not going there. But in the 2000s the fruit profile is darker and only more recent vintages go back to the beautiful bright red fruit. 2) The hype is real: The level of greatness this winery achieves since the 2015 vintage is stunning. The complexity, delineation, purity and textural depth are miles ahead of what the company produced before. 3) Figeac shows that it is among the 15 best wines produced in Bordeaux today and considering the En Primeur prices, probably only Montrose and Pichon Lalande have an equally good value proposition in this top group. 4) Winner was the 2019 (97pts) with an unmatched purity and depth, ahead of the 2015 (96pts) and a stunning 2018 (96pts) which tells a lot about how well they coped with the hot vintage.
TN: Rather noble dark fruit and minerality nose, classic. But quite closed and muted (no surprise when revealed that it is a 2005). Lots of dark berries, minerality and earthy notes. A jump in elegance vs all vintages before with fine tannins, well integrated high acidity and a melty, satin like texture. Fun to drink but a bit muted. The room was split again over this one with half the people not being a fan (my guess is they didn’t give it enough air, as it improved by the minute).
Decanting: Not decanted. This would certainly benefit from 2+ hours in a decanter.
France, Bordeaux, Libournais, St. Émilion Grand Cru
All wines tasted blind. A few observations: 1) Compared many other right bank peers, Figeac never fell into the trap of producing very high ripeness/high extraction wines. The low(er) Merlot content plays a role, but the wines clearly speak of a conscious decision of not going there. But in the 2000s the fruit profile is darker and only more recent vintages go back to the beautiful bright red fruit. 2) The hype is real: The level of greatness this winery achieves since the 2015 vintage is stunning. The complexity, delineation, purity and textural depth are miles ahead of what the company produced before. 3) Figeac shows that it is among the 15 best wines produced in Bordeaux today and considering the En Primeur prices, probably only Montrose and Pichon Lalande have an equally good value proposition in this top group. 4) Winner was the 2019 (97pts) with an unmatched purity and depth, ahead of the 2015 (96pts) and a stunning 2018 (96pts) which tells a lot about how well they coped with the hot vintage.
TN: Not overly expressive nose. On the palate quite fresh dark berries, some blue fruit, roasted and toasty aromas, some smoky notes. Overall not enough fruit to excite. Slightly coarse tannins and high acid make this one of the weaker structural frames.
Decanting: Not decanted. An hour or two in the decanter should help here.
France, Bordeaux, Libournais, St. Émilion Grand Cru
All wines tasted blind. A few observations: 1) Compared many other right bank peers, Figeac never fell into the trap of producing very high ripeness/high extraction wines. The low(er) Merlot content plays a role, but the wines clearly speak of a conscious decision of not going there. But in the 2000s the fruit profile is darker and only more recent vintages go back to the beautiful bright red fruit. 2) The hype is real: The level of greatness this winery achieves since the 2015 vintage is stunning. The complexity, delineation, purity and textural depth are miles ahead of what the company produced before. 3) Figeac shows that it is among the 15 best wines produced in Bordeaux today and considering the En Primeur prices, probably only Montrose and Pichon Lalande have an equally good value proposition in this top group. 4) Winner was the 2019 (97pts) with an unmatched purity and depth, ahead of the 2015 (96pts) and a stunning 2018 (96pts) which tells a lot about how well they coped with the hot vintage.
TN: The palate is marked by quite ripe but not too ripe fruit. On the palate there are green notes mixing with the fine fruit underneath. The tannins are fine but the slightly too high acidity which disturb the picture a bit. Many right banks excelled in 2008 and are drinking beautifully today. Figeac was not one of them. 89/90 pts.
Decanting: Not decanted. My guess is that 1-2 hours in the decanter would have been good.
France, Bordeaux, Libournais, St. Émilion Grand Cru
All wines tasted blind. A few observations: 1) Compared many other right bank peers, Figeac never fell into the trap of producing very high ripeness/high extraction wines. The low(er) Merlot content plays a role, but the wines clearly speak of a conscious decision of not going there. But in the 2000s the fruit profile is darker and only more recent vintages go back to the beautiful bright red fruit. 2) The hype is real: The level of greatness this winery achieves since the 2015 vintage is stunning. The complexity, delineation, purity and textural depth are miles ahead of what the company produced before. 3) Figeac shows that it is among the 15 best wines produced in Bordeaux today and considering the En Primeur prices, probably only Montrose and Pichon Lalande have an equally good value proposition in this top group. 4) Winner was the 2019 (97pts) with an unmatched purity and depth, ahead of the 2015 (96pts) and a stunning 2018 (96pts) which tells a lot about how well they coped with the hot vintage. .
TN: The nose showed rather muted. On the palate this shows fine dark fruit, herbs, minerality. To get a higher rating, this would have needed more charm and sweetness, which is quite surprising considering the vintage. But the structural frame is impeccable. Fine tannins, good high but well integrated acidity, quite airy texture for a 2009. Overall quite good but my feeling is that this will probably not have a very long life.
Decanting: Not decanted. An hour or two in the decanter seems right here.
France, Bordeaux, Libournais, St. Émilion Grand Cru
All wines tasted blind. A few observations: 1) Compared many other right bank peers, Figeac never fell into the trap of producing very high ripeness/high extraction wines. The low(er) Merlot content plays a role, but the wines clearly speak of a conscious decision of not going there. But in the 2000s the fruit profile is darker and only more recent vintages go back to the beautiful bright red fruit. 2) The hype is real: The level of greatness this winery achieves since the 2015 vintage is stunning. The complexity, delineation, purity and textural depth are miles ahead of what the company produced before. 3) Figeac shows that it is among the 15 best wines produced in Bordeaux today and considering the En Primeur prices, probably only Montrose and Pichon Lalande have an equally good value proposition in this top group. 4) Winner was the 2019 (97pts) with an unmatched purity and depth, ahead of the 2015 (96pts) and a stunning 2018 (96pts) which tells a lot about how well they coped with the hot vintage.
TN: The first wine in the lineup, that almost reached greatness and might on a good day get to the 95pts. Expressive on the nose and palate displaying fine dark red and dark berries, fine fruit core, herbs and minerality, some smoky notes. The fruit has a beautiful purity – the first vintage to shows this trait. Very fresh, fine tannins, superb texture. This was great to drink and should have a long life.
Decanting: Not decanted. Good from the go. I guess a short decant should be sufficient here.
France, Bordeaux, Libournais, St. Émilion Grand Cru
All wines tasted blind. A few observations: 1) Compared many other right bank peers, Figeac never fell into the trap of producing very high ripeness/high extraction wines. The low(er) Merlot content plays a role, but the wines clearly speak of a conscious decision of not going there. But in the 2000s the fruit profile is darker and only more recent vintages go back to the beautiful bright red fruit. 2) The hype is real: The level of greatness this winery achieves since the 2015 vintage is stunning. The complexity, delineation, purity and textural depth are miles ahead of what the company produced before. 3) Figeac shows that it is among the 15 best wines produced in Bordeaux today and considering the En Primeur prices, probably only Montrose and Pichon Lalande have an equally good value proposition in this top group. 4) Winner was the 2019 (97pts) with an unmatched purity and depth, ahead of the 2015 (96pts) and a stunning 2018 (96pts) which tells a lot about how well they coped with the hot vintage.
TN: Smoky minerality and dark fruit dominates the nose. On the palate this shows quite classic (like so many 2014s), lots of minerality, ripe dark berries a bit of herbal and green notes as well (again, like many 2014s) Good frame, not the roundest tannins and probably a slightly too pronounced acidity. Overall quite good but not comparison to the vintages after.
Decanting: Not decanted. I guess an hour or two might be great.
France, Bordeaux, Libournais, St. Émilion Grand Cru
All wines tasted blind. A few observations: 1) Compared many other right bank peers, Figeac never fell into the trap of producing very high ripeness/high extraction wines. The low(er) Merlot content plays a role, but the wines clearly speak of a conscious decision of not going there. But in the 2000s the fruit profile is darker and only more recent vintages go back to the beautiful bright red fruit. 2) The hype is real: The level of greatness this winery achieves since the 2015 vintage is stunning. The complexity, delineation, purity and textural depth are miles ahead of what the company produced before. 3) Figeac shows that it is among the 15 best wines produced in Bordeaux today and considering the En Primeur prices, probably only Montrose and Pichon Lalande have an equally good value proposition in this top group. 4) Winner was the 2019 (97pts) with an unmatched purity and depth, ahead of the 2015 (96pts) and a stunning 2018 (96pts) which tells a lot about how well they coped with the hot vintage.
TN: Medium+ expressive nose with dark fruit, toasty notes, herbs. On the palate this shows lots and lots of fine red berries, herbs, minerality, tobacco. Very layered and with superb delineation. The tannins are of excellent quality, ultra-fine, without hard edges, lots of tension and a superb acidic spine keeping the wine light and airy in this warm vintage. I’ve had this wine several times before and it always showed excellent (rated between 95 and 97pts before).
Decanting: Not decanted, good from the go. Which is consistent with previous bottles that showed that no extensive decanting is necessary at this point.
France, Bordeaux, Libournais, St. Émilion Grand Cru
All wines tasted blind. A few observations: 1) Compared many other right bank peers, Figeac never fell into the trap of producing very high ripeness/high extraction wines. The low(er) Merlot content plays a role, but the wines clearly speak of a conscious decision of not going there. But in the 2000s the fruit profile is darker and only more recent vintages go back to the beautiful bright red fruit. 2) The hype is real: The level of greatness this winery achieves since the 2015 vintage is stunning. The complexity, delineation, purity and textural depth are miles ahead of what the company produced before. 3) Figeac shows that it is among the 15 best wines produced in Bordeaux today and considering the En Primeur prices, probably only Montrose and Pichon Lalande have an equally good value proposition in this top group. 4) Winner was the 2019 (97pts) with an unmatched purity and depth, ahead of the 2015 (96pts) and a stunning 2018 (96pts) which tells a lot about how well they coped with the hot vintage.
TN: This wine left me a bit puzzled. It came in a flight with 2015, 2018 and 2019. I though this to be the 2018, without question. It showed very, very ripe. Very dense and sweet. Only with more time in the glass, it got better and better, lighter, airier and with a purer, brighter fruit expression. Going back to my notes on previous bottles, we had a similar experience at a “5 years on” tasting back in 2021 (rated 95pts). The wine showed dark and dense and didn’t get good grades from the group. Only with a lot more air it turned around and showed its true 2016 character. So the 93pts are reflective of what was in the glass today but not about what the potential of this vintage is.
Decanting: Not decanted. This likely would have benefited from a prolonged decant.
France, Bordeaux, Libournais, St. Émilion Grand Cru
All wines tasted blind. A few observations: 1) Compared many other right bank peers, Figeac never fell into the trap of producing very high ripeness/high extraction wines. The low(er) Merlot content plays a role, but the wines clearly speak of a conscious decision of not going there. But in the 2000s the fruit profile is darker and only more recent vintages go back to the beautiful bright red fruit. 2) The hype is real: The level of greatness this winery achieves since the 2015 vintage is stunning. The complexity, delineation, purity and textural depth are miles ahead of what the company produced before. 3) Figeac shows that it is among the 15 best wines produced in Bordeaux today and considering the En Primeur prices, probably only Montrose and Pichon Lalande have an equally good value proposition in this top group. 4) Winner was the 2019 (97pts) with an unmatched purity and depth, ahead of the 2015 (96pts) and a stunning 2018 (96pts) which tells a lot about how well they coped with the hot vintage.
TN: On the nose lots of roasted and toasted aromas, ripe fruit but not too ripe. The palate shows the same traits, lots of toasty notes and slightly roasted fruit, but then with time more and more and more red berries, seductive red berries, chocolate notes, minerality and some earthy notes. A wall of fine tannins and well-integrated acidity and then this super light and airy texture. A true winner and so good to drink today. Is this strong performance of this wine in this vintage still a surprise if it happens so regularly with the 2017s?
Decanting: Not decanted. No extensive decanting needed.
France, Bordeaux, Libournais, St. Émilion Grand Cru
All wines tasted blind. A few observations: 1) Compared many other right bank peers, Figeac never fell into the trap of producing very high ripeness/high extraction wines. The low(er) Merlot content plays a role, but the wines clearly speak of a conscious decision of not going there. But in the 2000s the fruit profile is darker and only more recent vintages go back to the beautiful bright red fruit. 2) The hype is real: The level of greatness this winery achieves since the 2015 vintage is stunning. The complexity, delineation, purity and textural depth are miles ahead of what the company produced before. 3) Figeac shows that it is among the 15 best wines produced in Bordeaux today and considering the En Primeur prices, probably only Montrose and Pichon Lalande have an equally good value proposition in this top group. 4) Winner was the 2019 (97pts) with an unmatched purity and depth, ahead of the 2015 (96pts) and a stunning 2018 (96pts) which tells a lot about how well they coped with the hot vintage.
TN: Dark red, dark and red berry mix on the nose, some minerality. Medium+ expressive, very intriguing, very precise. On the palate there is beautiful bright red berries, some darker and blueberries too. A layer of tobacco and earth, some fine and not too sweet chocolate notes. Superb definition. Very seductive, yet so classy and well-behaved, so much freshness and not too ripe fruit. I expected the 2018 to be so much riper than it was. The tannin quality is ultra-high, the acidity high but perfectly integrated. Balance superb.
Decanting: Not decanted, no extensive decanting needed. Good from the go.
France, Bordeaux, Libournais, St. Émilion Grand Cru
All wines tasted blind. A few observations: 1) Compared many other right bank peers, Figeac never fell into the trap of producing very high ripeness/high extraction wines. The low(er) Merlot content plays a role, but the wines clearly speak of a conscious decision of not going there. But in the 2000s the fruit profile is darker and only more recent vintages go back to the beautiful bright red fruit. 2) The hype is real: The level of greatness this winery achieves since the 2015 vintage is stunning. The complexity, delineation, purity and textural depth are miles ahead of what the company produced before. 3) Figeac shows that it is among the 15 best wines produced in Bordeaux today and considering the En Primeur prices, probably only Montrose and Pichon Lalande have an equally good value proposition in this top group. 4) Winner was the 2019 (97pts) with an unmatched purity and depth, ahead of the 2015 (96pts) and a stunning 2018 (96pts) which tells a lot about how well they coped with the hot vintage.
TN: The nose was at first completely muted and only opened up slightly with time. But on the palate, booooom, an explosion of flavors: layers and layers of fresh pure red and blue fruit, minerality, herbs, chocolate, tobacco. Wow. The real deal. The purity is off the charts here, even a step up compared to the 2015/16/18. The structure perfect. Ultra-fine tannins, medium high and so well-integrated acidity, superb balance, airy texture. The winner tonight and a very promising wine.
Decanting: Not decanted, good from the go. I wouldn’t decant at this point, despite the rather muted nose.
1985 Château Figeac 90 Points
France, Bordeaux, Libournais, St. Émilion Grand Cru
All wines tasted blind. A few observations: 1) Compared many other right bank peers, Figeac never fell into the trap of producing very high ripeness/high extraction wines. The low(er) Merlot content plays a role, but the wines clearly speak of a conscious decision of not going there. But in the 2000s the fruit profile is darker and only more recent vintages go back to the beautiful bright red fruit. 2) The hype is real: The level of greatness this winery achieves since the 2015 vintage is stunning. The complexity, delineation, purity and textural depth are miles ahead of what the company produced before. 3) Figeac shows that it is among the 15 best wines produced in Bordeaux today and considering the En Primeur prices, probably only Montrose and Pichon Lalande have an equally good value proposition in this top group. 4) Winner was the 2019 (97pts) with an unmatched purity and depth, ahead of the 2015 (96pts) and a stunning 2018 (96pts) which tells a lot about how well they coped with the hot vintage.
TN: Medium expressive nose with dark berries, smoky minerality and some herbs. Some seductive toasty notes with time in the glass. On the palate quite harmonious with dark berries, herbs and minerality. This is a pleasant wine but without the depth and a slightly to muscular structural frame to achieve a higher rating than the 90/91 pts.
Decanting: Not decanted, no extensive decanting needed.
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1986 Château Figeac Flawed
France, Bordeaux, Libournais, St. Émilion Grand Cru
All wines tasted blind. A few observations: 1) Compared many other right bank peers, Figeac never fell into the trap of producing very high ripeness/high extraction wines. The low(er) Merlot content plays a role, but the wines clearly speak of a conscious decision of not going there. But in the 2000s the fruit profile is darker and only more recent vintages go back to the beautiful bright red fruit. 2) The hype is real: The level of greatness this winery achieves since the 2015 vintage is stunning. The complexity, delineation, purity and textural depth are miles ahead of what the company produced before. 3) Figeac shows that it is among the 15 best wines produced in Bordeaux today and considering the En Primeur prices, probably only Montrose and Pichon Lalande have an equally good value proposition in this top group. 4) Winner was the 2019 (97pts) with an unmatched purity and depth, ahead of the 2015 (96pts) and a stunning 2018 (96pts) which tells a lot about how well they coped with the hot vintage.
TN: Wet cardboard or cork. The only fault wine in the lineup.
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1989 Château Figeac 89 Points
France, Bordeaux, Libournais, St. Émilion Grand Cru
All wines tasted blind. A few observations: 1) Compared many other right bank peers, Figeac never fell into the trap of producing very high ripeness/high extraction wines. The low(er) Merlot content plays a role, but the wines clearly speak of a conscious decision of not going there. But in the 2000s the fruit profile is darker and only more recent vintages go back to the beautiful bright red fruit. 2) The hype is real: The level of greatness this winery achieves since the 2015 vintage is stunning. The complexity, delineation, purity and textural depth are miles ahead of what the company produced before. 3) Figeac shows that it is among the 15 best wines produced in Bordeaux today and considering the En Primeur prices, probably only Montrose and Pichon Lalande have an equally good value proposition in this top group. 4) Winner was the 2019 (97pts) with an unmatched purity and depth, ahead of the 2015 (96pts) and a stunning 2018 (96pts) which tells a lot about how well they coped with the hot vintage.
TN: Dark fruit, quite ripe and some very subtle alcohol notes on the nose. On the palate the ripe, fine fruit but not much of it, much more herbs, minerality. Good but the wine doesn’t have a good balance with a too pronounced acidity. Overall this is ok but not good. The fruit has left the building.
Decanting: Not decanted, no extensive decanting needed.
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1990 Château Figeac 92 Points
France, Bordeaux, Libournais, St. Émilion Grand Cru
All wines tasted blind. A few observations: 1) Compared many other right bank peers, Figeac never fell into the trap of producing very high ripeness/high extraction wines. The low(er) Merlot content plays a role, but the wines clearly speak of a conscious decision of not going there. But in the 2000s the fruit profile is darker and only more recent vintages go back to the beautiful bright red fruit. 2) The hype is real: The level of greatness this winery achieves since the 2015 vintage is stunning. The complexity, delineation, purity and textural depth are miles ahead of what the company produced before. 3) Figeac shows that it is among the 15 best wines produced in Bordeaux today and considering the En Primeur prices, probably only Montrose and Pichon Lalande have an equally good value proposition in this top group. 4) Winner was the 2019 (97pts) with an unmatched purity and depth, ahead of the 2015 (96pts) and a stunning 2018 (96pts) which tells a lot about how well they coped with the hot vintage.
TN: Slightly toasty notes, dark fruits, some smoky minerality on the medium expressive nose. On the palate quite expressive and intense with fine dark berries, herbs and smoky minerality, hints of toasty notes, some faint tobacco notes. All the earthy aromas are at the center of it all with not exactly enough fruit around it. Very fine and elegant overall with good tension, fine acidity and good length. Quite harmonious and round. This was very good and could have been great with a bit more fruit.
Decanting: Not decanted, a short decant should do the job.
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1994 Château Figeac 86 Points
France, Bordeaux, Libournais, St. Émilion Grand Cru
All wines tasted blind. A few observations: 1) Compared many other right bank peers, Figeac never fell into the trap of producing very high ripeness/high extraction wines. The low(er) Merlot content plays a role, but the wines clearly speak of a conscious decision of not going there. But in the 2000s the fruit profile is darker and only more recent vintages go back to the beautiful bright red fruit. 2) The hype is real: The level of greatness this winery achieves since the 2015 vintage is stunning. The complexity, delineation, purity and textural depth are miles ahead of what the company produced before. 3) Figeac shows that it is among the 15 best wines produced in Bordeaux today and considering the En Primeur prices, probably only Montrose and Pichon Lalande have an equally good value proposition in this top group. 4) Winner was the 2019 (97pts) with an unmatched purity and depth, ahead of the 2015 (96pts) and a stunning 2018 (96pts) which tells a lot about how well they coped with the hot vintage.
TN: Dark fruit, quite ripe, almost candied on the nose. Some smoky minerality too. Intriguing. On the palate this shows fine, fresh and round, fine tannins but not much substance. A bit of fruit, herbs and minerality but not not much more. With time the fruit and sweetness go away completely. At first around 90 pts, then less and less with time. A rather weak vintage… but that is hardly a surprise.
Decanting: Not decanted, decanting is not advised, best right after opening.
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1995 Château Figeac 90 Points
France, Bordeaux, Libournais, St. Émilion Grand Cru
All wines tasted blind. A few observations: 1) Compared many other right bank peers, Figeac never fell into the trap of producing very high ripeness/high extraction wines. The low(er) Merlot content plays a role, but the wines clearly speak of a conscious decision of not going there. But in the 2000s the fruit profile is darker and only more recent vintages go back to the beautiful bright red fruit. 2) The hype is real: The level of greatness this winery achieves since the 2015 vintage is stunning. The complexity, delineation, purity and textural depth are miles ahead of what the company produced before. 3) Figeac shows that it is among the 15 best wines produced in Bordeaux today and considering the En Primeur prices, probably only Montrose and Pichon Lalande have an equally good value proposition in this top group. 4) Winner was the 2019 (97pts) with an unmatched purity and depth, ahead of the 2015 (96pts) and a stunning 2018 (96pts) which tells a lot about how well they coped with the hot vintage.
TN: Candied red berries, smoky minerality and earthy notes on the medium expressive nose, some bretty notes. On the palate brighter red berries, herbs, crushed rocks, some toasty notes. All in all quite good. With time though, the fruit disappears. The tannins are still noticeable and have some edges but nothing time can’t solve, the acidity is too pronounced, though.
Decanting: Not decanted, decanting is not advised, best right after opening.
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1996 Château Figeac 92 Points
France, Bordeaux, Libournais, St. Émilion Grand Cru
All wines tasted blind. A few observations: 1) Compared many other right bank peers, Figeac never fell into the trap of producing very high ripeness/high extraction wines. The low(er) Merlot content plays a role, but the wines clearly speak of a conscious decision of not going there. But in the 2000s the fruit profile is darker and only more recent vintages go back to the beautiful bright red fruit. 2) The hype is real: The level of greatness this winery achieves since the 2015 vintage is stunning. The complexity, delineation, purity and textural depth are miles ahead of what the company produced before. 3) Figeac shows that it is among the 15 best wines produced in Bordeaux today and considering the En Primeur prices, probably only Montrose and Pichon Lalande have an equally good value proposition in this top group. 4) Winner was the 2019 (97pts) with an unmatched purity and depth, ahead of the 2015 (96pts) and a stunning 2018 (96pts) which tells a lot about how well they coped with the hot vintage.
TN: The nose was a bit muted. On the palate there are some red berries, some darker berries, some cedary notes, some crushed rocks. Quite classic in style. Overall pleasant aroma mix but not overly expressive. The frame is not perfect with fine tannins but a slightly too pronounced acidity. A good wine without any exceptionalism.
Decanting: Not decanted. I guess, an hour or two in the decanter could have helped here to open the wine up.
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2000 Château Figeac 91 Points
France, Bordeaux, Libournais, St. Émilion Grand Cru
All wines tasted blind. A few observations: 1) Compared many other right bank peers, Figeac never fell into the trap of producing very high ripeness/high extraction wines. The low(er) Merlot content plays a role, but the wines clearly speak of a conscious decision of not going there. But in the 2000s the fruit profile is darker and only more recent vintages go back to the beautiful bright red fruit. 2) The hype is real: The level of greatness this winery achieves since the 2015 vintage is stunning. The complexity, delineation, purity and textural depth are miles ahead of what the company produced before. 3) Figeac shows that it is among the 15 best wines produced in Bordeaux today and considering the En Primeur prices, probably only Montrose and Pichon Lalande have an equally good value proposition in this top group. 4) Winner was the 2019 (97pts) with an unmatched purity and depth, ahead of the 2015 (96pts) and a stunning 2018 (96pts) which tells a lot about how well they coped with the hot vintage.
TN: The first vintage in the lineup with rather dark ripe berries at the center. On the palate there is fresh blue and black fruit, some smoky minerality again, herbs. Missing a bit of charm and aromatic balance. The tannins are noticeable, the acidity is pronounced but overall the balance is still ok but not great.
Decanting: Not decanted, an hour should be enough here.
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2002 Château Figeac 90 Points
France, Bordeaux, Libournais, St. Émilion Grand Cru
All wines tasted blind. A few observations: 1) Compared many other right bank peers, Figeac never fell into the trap of producing very high ripeness/high extraction wines. The low(er) Merlot content plays a role, but the wines clearly speak of a conscious decision of not going there. But in the 2000s the fruit profile is darker and only more recent vintages go back to the beautiful bright red fruit. 2) The hype is real: The level of greatness this winery achieves since the 2015 vintage is stunning. The complexity, delineation, purity and textural depth are miles ahead of what the company produced before. 3) Figeac shows that it is among the 15 best wines produced in Bordeaux today and considering the En Primeur prices, probably only Montrose and Pichon Lalande have an equally good value proposition in this top group. 4) Winner was the 2019 (97pts) with an unmatched purity and depth, ahead of the 2015 (96pts) and a stunning 2018 (96pts) which tells a lot about how well they coped with the hot vintage.
TN: Rather green, herbal nose. On the palate pleasant bright fruit, herbs and minerality but the aromatic balance and the structure with a too pronounced acidity are not that good. Half the room liked it much better (see Collector1855’s note) but I found it one of the weaker showings. But no surprise here as not one 2002 could really convince me to date, either they were too extracted or, like this wine, did not show enough fruit/sweetness. The best ones were Cheval Blanc, Ausone and Haut Bailly at 93pts, with limited love for some other heavyweights: Mouton 91pts, Angelus 91pts, Mission 91 pts, Haut Brion 90pts.
Decanting: Not decanted, no extensive decanting needed.
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2005 Château Figeac 93 Points
France, Bordeaux, Libournais, St. Émilion Grand Cru
All wines tasted blind. A few observations: 1) Compared many other right bank peers, Figeac never fell into the trap of producing very high ripeness/high extraction wines. The low(er) Merlot content plays a role, but the wines clearly speak of a conscious decision of not going there. But in the 2000s the fruit profile is darker and only more recent vintages go back to the beautiful bright red fruit. 2) The hype is real: The level of greatness this winery achieves since the 2015 vintage is stunning. The complexity, delineation, purity and textural depth are miles ahead of what the company produced before. 3) Figeac shows that it is among the 15 best wines produced in Bordeaux today and considering the En Primeur prices, probably only Montrose and Pichon Lalande have an equally good value proposition in this top group. 4) Winner was the 2019 (97pts) with an unmatched purity and depth, ahead of the 2015 (96pts) and a stunning 2018 (96pts) which tells a lot about how well they coped with the hot vintage.
TN: Rather noble dark fruit and minerality nose, classic. But quite closed and muted (no surprise when revealed that it is a 2005). Lots of dark berries, minerality and earthy notes. A jump in elegance vs all vintages before with fine tannins, well integrated high acidity and a melty, satin like texture. Fun to drink but a bit muted. The room was split again over this one with half the people not being a fan (my guess is they didn’t give it enough air, as it improved by the minute).
Decanting: Not decanted. This would certainly benefit from 2+ hours in a decanter.
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2006 Château Figeac 90 Points
France, Bordeaux, Libournais, St. Émilion Grand Cru
All wines tasted blind. A few observations: 1) Compared many other right bank peers, Figeac never fell into the trap of producing very high ripeness/high extraction wines. The low(er) Merlot content plays a role, but the wines clearly speak of a conscious decision of not going there. But in the 2000s the fruit profile is darker and only more recent vintages go back to the beautiful bright red fruit. 2) The hype is real: The level of greatness this winery achieves since the 2015 vintage is stunning. The complexity, delineation, purity and textural depth are miles ahead of what the company produced before. 3) Figeac shows that it is among the 15 best wines produced in Bordeaux today and considering the En Primeur prices, probably only Montrose and Pichon Lalande have an equally good value proposition in this top group. 4) Winner was the 2019 (97pts) with an unmatched purity and depth, ahead of the 2015 (96pts) and a stunning 2018 (96pts) which tells a lot about how well they coped with the hot vintage.
TN: Not overly expressive nose. On the palate quite fresh dark berries, some blue fruit, roasted and toasty aromas, some smoky notes. Overall not enough fruit to excite. Slightly coarse tannins and high acid make this one of the weaker structural frames.
Decanting: Not decanted. An hour or two in the decanter should help here.
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2008 Château Figeac 89 Points
France, Bordeaux, Libournais, St. Émilion Grand Cru
All wines tasted blind. A few observations: 1) Compared many other right bank peers, Figeac never fell into the trap of producing very high ripeness/high extraction wines. The low(er) Merlot content plays a role, but the wines clearly speak of a conscious decision of not going there. But in the 2000s the fruit profile is darker and only more recent vintages go back to the beautiful bright red fruit. 2) The hype is real: The level of greatness this winery achieves since the 2015 vintage is stunning. The complexity, delineation, purity and textural depth are miles ahead of what the company produced before. 3) Figeac shows that it is among the 15 best wines produced in Bordeaux today and considering the En Primeur prices, probably only Montrose and Pichon Lalande have an equally good value proposition in this top group. 4) Winner was the 2019 (97pts) with an unmatched purity and depth, ahead of the 2015 (96pts) and a stunning 2018 (96pts) which tells a lot about how well they coped with the hot vintage.
TN: The palate is marked by quite ripe but not too ripe fruit. On the palate there are green notes mixing with the fine fruit underneath. The tannins are fine but the slightly too high acidity which disturb the picture a bit. Many right banks excelled in 2008 and are drinking beautifully today. Figeac was not one of them. 89/90 pts.
Decanting: Not decanted. My guess is that 1-2 hours in the decanter would have been good.
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2009 Château Figeac 92 Points
France, Bordeaux, Libournais, St. Émilion Grand Cru
All wines tasted blind. A few observations: 1) Compared many other right bank peers, Figeac never fell into the trap of producing very high ripeness/high extraction wines. The low(er) Merlot content plays a role, but the wines clearly speak of a conscious decision of not going there. But in the 2000s the fruit profile is darker and only more recent vintages go back to the beautiful bright red fruit. 2) The hype is real: The level of greatness this winery achieves since the 2015 vintage is stunning. The complexity, delineation, purity and textural depth are miles ahead of what the company produced before. 3) Figeac shows that it is among the 15 best wines produced in Bordeaux today and considering the En Primeur prices, probably only Montrose and Pichon Lalande have an equally good value proposition in this top group. 4) Winner was the 2019 (97pts) with an unmatched purity and depth, ahead of the 2015 (96pts) and a stunning 2018 (96pts) which tells a lot about how well they coped with the hot vintage.
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TN: The nose showed rather muted. On the palate this shows fine dark fruit, herbs, minerality. To get a higher rating, this would have needed more charm and sweetness, which is quite surprising considering the vintage. But the structural frame is impeccable. Fine tannins, good high but well integrated acidity, quite airy texture for a 2009. Overall quite good but my feeling is that this will probably not have a very long life.
Decanting: Not decanted. An hour or two in the decanter seems right here.
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2010 Château Figeac 94 Points
France, Bordeaux, Libournais, St. Émilion Grand Cru
All wines tasted blind. A few observations: 1) Compared many other right bank peers, Figeac never fell into the trap of producing very high ripeness/high extraction wines. The low(er) Merlot content plays a role, but the wines clearly speak of a conscious decision of not going there. But in the 2000s the fruit profile is darker and only more recent vintages go back to the beautiful bright red fruit. 2) The hype is real: The level of greatness this winery achieves since the 2015 vintage is stunning. The complexity, delineation, purity and textural depth are miles ahead of what the company produced before. 3) Figeac shows that it is among the 15 best wines produced in Bordeaux today and considering the En Primeur prices, probably only Montrose and Pichon Lalande have an equally good value proposition in this top group. 4) Winner was the 2019 (97pts) with an unmatched purity and depth, ahead of the 2015 (96pts) and a stunning 2018 (96pts) which tells a lot about how well they coped with the hot vintage.
TN: The first wine in the lineup, that almost reached greatness and might on a good day get to the 95pts. Expressive on the nose and palate displaying fine dark red and dark berries, fine fruit core, herbs and minerality, some smoky notes. The fruit has a beautiful purity – the first vintage to shows this trait. Very fresh, fine tannins, superb texture. This was great to drink and should have a long life.
Decanting: Not decanted. Good from the go. I guess a short decant should be sufficient here.
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2014 Château Figeac 92 Points
France, Bordeaux, Libournais, St. Émilion Grand Cru
All wines tasted blind. A few observations: 1) Compared many other right bank peers, Figeac never fell into the trap of producing very high ripeness/high extraction wines. The low(er) Merlot content plays a role, but the wines clearly speak of a conscious decision of not going there. But in the 2000s the fruit profile is darker and only more recent vintages go back to the beautiful bright red fruit. 2) The hype is real: The level of greatness this winery achieves since the 2015 vintage is stunning. The complexity, delineation, purity and textural depth are miles ahead of what the company produced before. 3) Figeac shows that it is among the 15 best wines produced in Bordeaux today and considering the En Primeur prices, probably only Montrose and Pichon Lalande have an equally good value proposition in this top group. 4) Winner was the 2019 (97pts) with an unmatched purity and depth, ahead of the 2015 (96pts) and a stunning 2018 (96pts) which tells a lot about how well they coped with the hot vintage.
TN: Smoky minerality and dark fruit dominates the nose. On the palate this shows quite classic (like so many 2014s), lots of minerality, ripe dark berries a bit of herbal and green notes as well (again, like many 2014s) Good frame, not the roundest tannins and probably a slightly too pronounced acidity. Overall quite good but not comparison to the vintages after.
Decanting: Not decanted. I guess an hour or two might be great.
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2015 Château Figeac 96 Points
France, Bordeaux, Libournais, St. Émilion Grand Cru
All wines tasted blind. A few observations: 1) Compared many other right bank peers, Figeac never fell into the trap of producing very high ripeness/high extraction wines. The low(er) Merlot content plays a role, but the wines clearly speak of a conscious decision of not going there. But in the 2000s the fruit profile is darker and only more recent vintages go back to the beautiful bright red fruit. 2) The hype is real: The level of greatness this winery achieves since the 2015 vintage is stunning. The complexity, delineation, purity and textural depth are miles ahead of what the company produced before. 3) Figeac shows that it is among the 15 best wines produced in Bordeaux today and considering the En Primeur prices, probably only Montrose and Pichon Lalande have an equally good value proposition in this top group. 4) Winner was the 2019 (97pts) with an unmatched purity and depth, ahead of the 2015 (96pts) and a stunning 2018 (96pts) which tells a lot about how well they coped with the hot vintage.
TN: Medium+ expressive nose with dark fruit, toasty notes, herbs. On the palate this shows lots and lots of fine red berries, herbs, minerality, tobacco. Very layered and with superb delineation. The tannins are of excellent quality, ultra-fine, without hard edges, lots of tension and a superb acidic spine keeping the wine light and airy in this warm vintage. I’ve had this wine several times before and it always showed excellent (rated between 95 and 97pts before).
Decanting: Not decanted, good from the go. Which is consistent with previous bottles that showed that no extensive decanting is necessary at this point.
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2016 Château Figeac 93 Points
France, Bordeaux, Libournais, St. Émilion Grand Cru
All wines tasted blind. A few observations: 1) Compared many other right bank peers, Figeac never fell into the trap of producing very high ripeness/high extraction wines. The low(er) Merlot content plays a role, but the wines clearly speak of a conscious decision of not going there. But in the 2000s the fruit profile is darker and only more recent vintages go back to the beautiful bright red fruit. 2) The hype is real: The level of greatness this winery achieves since the 2015 vintage is stunning. The complexity, delineation, purity and textural depth are miles ahead of what the company produced before. 3) Figeac shows that it is among the 15 best wines produced in Bordeaux today and considering the En Primeur prices, probably only Montrose and Pichon Lalande have an equally good value proposition in this top group. 4) Winner was the 2019 (97pts) with an unmatched purity and depth, ahead of the 2015 (96pts) and a stunning 2018 (96pts) which tells a lot about how well they coped with the hot vintage.
TN: This wine left me a bit puzzled. It came in a flight with 2015, 2018 and 2019. I though this to be the 2018, without question. It showed very, very ripe. Very dense and sweet. Only with more time in the glass, it got better and better, lighter, airier and with a purer, brighter fruit expression. Going back to my notes on previous bottles, we had a similar experience at a “5 years on” tasting back in 2021 (rated 95pts). The wine showed dark and dense and didn’t get good grades from the group. Only with a lot more air it turned around and showed its true 2016 character. So the 93pts are reflective of what was in the glass today but not about what the potential of this vintage is.
Decanting: Not decanted. This likely would have benefited from a prolonged decant.
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2017 Château Figeac 95 Points
France, Bordeaux, Libournais, St. Émilion Grand Cru
All wines tasted blind. A few observations: 1) Compared many other right bank peers, Figeac never fell into the trap of producing very high ripeness/high extraction wines. The low(er) Merlot content plays a role, but the wines clearly speak of a conscious decision of not going there. But in the 2000s the fruit profile is darker and only more recent vintages go back to the beautiful bright red fruit. 2) The hype is real: The level of greatness this winery achieves since the 2015 vintage is stunning. The complexity, delineation, purity and textural depth are miles ahead of what the company produced before. 3) Figeac shows that it is among the 15 best wines produced in Bordeaux today and considering the En Primeur prices, probably only Montrose and Pichon Lalande have an equally good value proposition in this top group. 4) Winner was the 2019 (97pts) with an unmatched purity and depth, ahead of the 2015 (96pts) and a stunning 2018 (96pts) which tells a lot about how well they coped with the hot vintage.
TN: On the nose lots of roasted and toasted aromas, ripe fruit but not too ripe. The palate shows the same traits, lots of toasty notes and slightly roasted fruit, but then with time more and more and more red berries, seductive red berries, chocolate notes, minerality and some earthy notes. A wall of fine tannins and well-integrated acidity and then this super light and airy texture. A true winner and so good to drink today. Is this strong performance of this wine in this vintage still a surprise if it happens so regularly with the 2017s?
Decanting: Not decanted. No extensive decanting needed.
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2018 Château Figeac 96 Points
France, Bordeaux, Libournais, St. Émilion Grand Cru
All wines tasted blind. A few observations: 1) Compared many other right bank peers, Figeac never fell into the trap of producing very high ripeness/high extraction wines. The low(er) Merlot content plays a role, but the wines clearly speak of a conscious decision of not going there. But in the 2000s the fruit profile is darker and only more recent vintages go back to the beautiful bright red fruit. 2) The hype is real: The level of greatness this winery achieves since the 2015 vintage is stunning. The complexity, delineation, purity and textural depth are miles ahead of what the company produced before. 3) Figeac shows that it is among the 15 best wines produced in Bordeaux today and considering the En Primeur prices, probably only Montrose and Pichon Lalande have an equally good value proposition in this top group. 4) Winner was the 2019 (97pts) with an unmatched purity and depth, ahead of the 2015 (96pts) and a stunning 2018 (96pts) which tells a lot about how well they coped with the hot vintage.
TN: Dark red, dark and red berry mix on the nose, some minerality. Medium+ expressive, very intriguing, very precise. On the palate there is beautiful bright red berries, some darker and blueberries too. A layer of tobacco and earth, some fine and not too sweet chocolate notes. Superb definition. Very seductive, yet so classy and well-behaved, so much freshness and not too ripe fruit. I expected the 2018 to be so much riper than it was. The tannin quality is ultra-high, the acidity high but perfectly integrated. Balance superb.
Decanting: Not decanted, no extensive decanting needed. Good from the go.
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2019 Château Figeac 97 Points
France, Bordeaux, Libournais, St. Émilion Grand Cru
All wines tasted blind. A few observations: 1) Compared many other right bank peers, Figeac never fell into the trap of producing very high ripeness/high extraction wines. The low(er) Merlot content plays a role, but the wines clearly speak of a conscious decision of not going there. But in the 2000s the fruit profile is darker and only more recent vintages go back to the beautiful bright red fruit. 2) The hype is real: The level of greatness this winery achieves since the 2015 vintage is stunning. The complexity, delineation, purity and textural depth are miles ahead of what the company produced before. 3) Figeac shows that it is among the 15 best wines produced in Bordeaux today and considering the En Primeur prices, probably only Montrose and Pichon Lalande have an equally good value proposition in this top group. 4) Winner was the 2019 (97pts) with an unmatched purity and depth, ahead of the 2015 (96pts) and a stunning 2018 (96pts) which tells a lot about how well they coped with the hot vintage.
TN: The nose was at first completely muted and only opened up slightly with time. But on the palate, booooom, an explosion of flavors: layers and layers of fresh pure red and blue fruit, minerality, herbs, chocolate, tobacco. Wow. The real deal. The purity is off the charts here, even a step up compared to the 2015/16/18. The structure perfect. Ultra-fine tannins, medium high and so well-integrated acidity, superb balance, airy texture. The winner tonight and a very promising wine.
Decanting: Not decanted, good from the go. I wouldn’t decant at this point, despite the rather muted nose.
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