When they start to be drinkable, those Bordeaux really hit the spot ! 95/96
Nose is exquisite, with lovely tertiary notes, pencil shavings and leaves, forrest floor, smoked ham, ham fat (Spanish bellotta) mint and eucalyptus, ...
palate is integrated with Wonderfull balance, salty, long ad complex, cigar box... velvety refined, excellent wine !
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Drinking well in its window, but benefits of course from a few hours decant to air out some of the tannins and alcohol. The usual nearly even blend: 35% CabSauv, 35% CabFranc, 30% Merlot. Great vintage, and the winery kept the wine in balance but definitely big and bold. Black fruit over shadows some red notes, tobacco, cedar, and spice.
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Chateau Figeac 2009. 96+ (B2,L2,I2,C2). A blend of 35% CS, 35% CF and 30% Merlot, aged 18 months in new French oak. Excellent cork condition. No fault. Deep garnet with a glint. Decanted for 3 hours and enjoyed over 3 hours. Wine was still climbing at the end. Medium plus aroma. Dark (blackberry, black currant) and red fruits (raspberry, strawberry). Violet and rose flowers. Bell Pepper, chalk and wet stones. Black pepper, vanilla, cedar, mint and tobacco. Butter, caramel and rich. Very balanced and has a great length. Very fine and silky tannins. Good intensity and is extremely complex, evolving and improving over time in the glass. Aromas and flavours kept changing over time. Sweet and ripe. Interesting experience. Excellent to drink today but this wine should continue to improve in the bottle for many years. Paired with manchego, mimolette and beaufort d'alpage cheese and crackers. Kawamura Bafun Narabi Uni, ikura, tobiko, prawn and scallop pasta in rich and freshly made uni sauce.
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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.
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At the Figeac Estate. A stellar vintage for Figeac, and one that is really starting to come into a nice drinking window. Steeped black cherry, earth, spice, subtle dust, and black currant. Finishes dry, but with a nice roll of plum, cigar, and soil notes to offer just enough saturation in the back end to warrant another sip. Drink now with some open air, and over the next decade+.
Two hours in open bottle + 3hrs in the decanter. Blackcurrant, plum, but also some earth and mushroom, mint too and tobacco. Very dry, tannins still a little tight but nice acidity, very nice bottle.
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Tasted at Chateau Figeac, wine #1. One of my favourite chateau in the region, distinctive terroir and mastery of vinification. A blend of 35% CS, 35% CF and 30% Merlot, aged 18 months in new oak. Intense rich and complex aroma of spices, earth, black olives, blackcurrants, dried cherries, tobacco, hint of strawberries and cedar. Medium+ body, concentrated and deep, yet elegant and restrained with smoky fruits, mineral saline hints, impeccable structure, well balanced medium+ acidity & extra fine velvety tannins.
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WIN Gastrobar Dinner (Sommelier Guild of Atlanta) (Atlanta, GA): Brought this bottle to ATL Somm Guild dinner. No formal notes (just scores) since this was definitely a social event! I DD it (good amount of sediment) about 1 hour before it was passed around the table. Remember it drinking well for such a short decant and it's age. 94
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Decanted for two hours before serving. Fragrant nose with red fruit, cassis, warm spice and herbs. Surprisingly approachable and balanced but it also gained weight and muscle in the decanter. A very feminine Figeac.
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Blackcurrant, blackberry, plum, black pepper, leather, tobacco, cedar, licorice, bell pepper… A complex Bordeaux with equal amounts of cabernet sauvignon, merlot and cabernet franc. Full bodied, with ripe tannins, medium acidity and great balance. Very long.
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20 Vintages of Figeac (1985-2019): 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.
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Stylistically quite different to the 2020 tasted alongside. Expressive and open, very layered and complex on the nose. Riper, darker in terms of fruit profile. On the palate quite soft. Good acidity and unobtrusive tannins. Very good length. Excellent. 94-96
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Chateau Figeac - 35 year vertical tasted blind 1985-2019: The 2009 was shown next to the 2010. This is always interesting as with this vintage (like 1990/1989) it is never clear who will be taking the top spot. Tonight the 2010 (96pt) had the clear edge, showing much more fruit and stuffing on the palate. The 2009 strangely was marked by oak toast and felt quite meager on the palate for the generous vintage. Good tertiary aromas with farmyard. A pity that they were not able to do better in this stellar year. Early drinking window.
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Very good, but intense. The oak is still prominent, and I think this wine has just entered its drinking window. We drank it with thick grilled ribeye steaks, which was good, as the wine would not have been as pleasant on its own. If I had another, I'd wait 10-12 years before drinking.
Is this worth $44 per glass? Not yet, I think, but it might be, in time.
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A private pre-Christmas Lunch with Friends: After two disappointing bottles in March, this is a convincing performance. Fully mature, well defined flavours, gentle tannins, harmonious and elegant, excellent precision, avoids any excess, very good persistence. I Love how this marries concentration with understated finesse.
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This 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.
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Cab Franc nose and dusty plum mixed with greenies on the attack ... more tobacco than green pepper. Great savory tones in the mid with long finish, med grip.
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*** With a wine as good as this, I think the winemakers insights provide something to the drinking experience in an afterthought. Similarly, my own notes above are more sparse, with this following description.
Winemaker Notes With its pedigree style, Chateau Figeac epitomises the elegance of the great wines of Bordeaux. Its unique style gradually shows through and develops over time.
This great wine displays a distinctive rich nose that has wonderful aromatic complexity.
On the palate, the Cabernet Sauvignon reveals lovely floral aromas in the first year then, as the wine ages, great structure on the palate.
The Cabernet Franc brings lots of freshness in the tannins, and... the Merlot contributes roundness and flesh.
The attack on the palate is clean, the texture is silky, and the complexity elegant.
The characteristic freshness of Figeac is underpinned by great length of flavor.
With its long aging potential, the wine goes on in time to reveal hints of forest floor, leather, cigar-box and licorice – always with its hallmark elegance.
PS- Drink the Rainbow!
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Blackcurrant, blackberry, plum, black pepper, leather, tobacco, cedar, licorice, bell pepper… A complex Bordeaux with equal amounts of cabernet sauvignon, merlot and cabernet franc. Full bodied, with ripe tannins, medium acidity and great balance. Very long.
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There is a gorgeous nose of ripe boysenberry fruit, undergrowth and the sweetest baby farm animals. Deep and full on the palate with intense flavors of smoky dark berries and rich earth with great lift and freshness. Despite its youth and richness, the wine is already expressing this amazing terroir so well as this oozes Figeac dirt. The Cab Sauv in this wine is quite apparent and really adds structure and spice. Even after a long decant, this needs another decade to really hit its stride but its a wow wine in the making. 94+
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Tasted non blind, along with 10 and 18. This was perhaps the most ready to drink, but also the one that will peak the soonest. It was rich and robust, still in balance, a bit of alcoholic heat, baked but not roasted flavors. No precise sense of place owing to its scale but high quality all the same. I’ll be curious to try these in 10 years.
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Tasted at the estate. Beautiful colour and a subtle but fragrant nose. Initial palate showed nutty characteristics, but then evolved into a nice medium to long finish with good acidity, balanced tannins and powerful yet elegant mineral tones.
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Académie des Cinquante Claret Tasting (Restaurant Rijsel, Amsterdam, NL): Tasted blind. Light and bright, drying, lacks generosity and stuffing, very tannic, green finish. Two bottles with consistent notes. A problematic wine today. When I look at e.g. Zweder's tasting note from 17 October 2020, there must be (quite considerable) bottle variation - which is slightly disconcerting for a wine of this price level. (88) Note: I took bottle No. 021481 home with me after the tasting, and on the second day the wine was perfectly intact, it had softened a bit which made it a more pleasant to drink, but the overall issue remained. (89)
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Figeac vertical: I thought at first this was rather tannic and unready but others loved this from the get-go more than me. After an hour or so it was really singing with very elegant red fruit that was still primary and youthful. Lovely balance to the wine, rich but very much open for business at the moment. Went with 2005 as I thought 2009 right bank would be a caricature, but was pleasantly surprised. Unanimous winner on the night.
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Supper with Daniel (E & M's in the rocks, Sydney): Woof. Red and blackberry, plum, currants, caramel, polished oak, tannins are grippy but all is integrated, balanced and long. Absolutely lovely but still very primary.
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Double decanted the wine and let him breathe for another four hours, which seemed necessary to us. Great nose with a nice complexity and different layers of black fruits underlayered with vanilla and mushrooms. On the palate very elegant and quite in the style of the chateau. Nice depth also here, tannins were surprisingly integrated in a very smooth way we thought. Medium acidity, very approachable at the moment, we thought it's not absolutely necessary to wait any longer. Great wine, however with his elegance not typical for right bank 2009.
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Tasted at the Château, my prior comments regarding the aromatic components stand though the energy and cohesion seem to be much greater indeed, elevating this substantially.
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Only right bank wine in this flight. Beautiful mixture between dark and red berries. Some chocolate and espresso notes too. Voluptuous body and structure - velvety tannins. A very warm and welcoming wine. Good complexity but lacking a bit in precision. Drink from 2024-2035. (IG)
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2021 Bordeaux Tasting Trip; 7/12/2021-7/16/2021 (Bordeaux): A tasting in Bordeaux of 71 wines, some of the best I have ever had and others, umm, well were disappointing. If you read the Tasting story (and my grading history) I think it will do a much better job putting this in perspective.
Tasting at the brand new gorgeous Chateau that will begin the wine making process for the 2021 vintage. This is another chateau hoping to move up in class this next voting period (2022) which they very well may achieve. I have never tasted Figeac but began buying the 2015 vintage due to the pedigree, rumored quality and style changes and my initial planned visit in ‘18 that eventually changed due to the start of their massive renovations.
I was excited to taste based on my inventory and never having the opportunity. While I wanted to taste a newer vintage to learn more about current state, it was interesting to taste a 2009 gran Vin alongside a petit Figeac 2016.
The tasting started with the 2009 and to be honest was very disappointed. The wine lacked the quality and depth I was expecting this gran Vin to deliver. The ‘16 petit offered more in the way of what I would have expected from a chateau of this reputation. Will hold off my assessment of the chateau until I get a better sense of the more recent vintages.
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deep red color, rich sweet cherry nose with bright bramble notes, fine cassis core, on the palate young, ripe and vibrant, very lively with firm underbrush notes, much patience required but this is on a very good path, as nicely as the fruit is showing- there is a whole lot of nuance yet to come.
(*****), 2029++
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For a 2009, this wine was lacking power and complexity. Even after 5hr of decant, nose was rather mediocre and structure lean. Maybe it is the bottle, but I do not think it is worthy of Grand Cru Class A as rumored.
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Half bottle. Decanted and then followed over a couple of hours. Chocolate, raspberry and tobacco. Pure and silky. There’s some structure there, though the tannins are very polished and this is drinking very well already (at least out of this format).
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I have to admit I liked the intensity and depth of flavor here, with powerful floral, spice and red fruit notes on display in abundance. I see upside as well, as this should balance out and display more nuance in 3-5 years.
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Same TN as before. Served with Thanksgiving Turkey. Was really good except the tannins were a bit strong. Onky decantex 30min. Needs 2 hours of decanting at least.
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Around even blend of Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Cabernet Franc from 40 ha of sandy-gravel alluvium soil over 3 hills and vines of average age 40 yrs. Traditional vinification in wood and stainless steel vats. Aged 15-18 months in 100% new French oak barriques. 13.5% Abv. ~100,000 bottles Proprietors: Thierry Manoncourt (1917–2010) Madame Marie-France Manoncourt and Hortense Idoine Manoncourt Managing Directors: Jean-Valmy Nicolas (jointly with Mme Manoncourt) Technical Manager: Frédéric Faye Cellarmaster: Guillaume de Laubier
A(ccuracy)=2: Med garnet. Floral, spicy Bordeaux blend. B(alance)=3: Distinctive fruit with silky tannin in broad structure. C(omplexity)=2: Dark berries, tea, toast, leather. D(epth)=2: Round mouthfeel. Full length and finish.
Wine Tally Score [2,3,2,2] = 9/10
Intriguing interplay of the three varietals.
For story-telling label graphics, see: [https://www.instagram.com/WineTally2020/] [https://www.facebook.com/WineTally/] For a unique multimedia resource, see [https://winetally.wixsite.com/vingnette2020]
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An easy afternoon with close friends (@ FD): Expressive and luxurious bouquet with vanilla, espresso, caramel and beautiful dark and red berry fruits. On the palate juicy dark and red berries, herbs, chocolate and vanilla. Overall a complex and very beautiful wine with still a lot of power for the future. 2030+
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Chateau Figeac 2009. 2009 is rated as the one of the best years of the right bank (https://www.winespectator.com/vintage-charts/region/bordeaux-right-bank-reds-pomerol-st.-emilion/).
Beautiful right bank bordeaux. A slightly suppressed yet complex nose of summer flowers combined with blueberries, damp mushrooms, mud, earth, and cigar. The palate comes in waves: truffles, soft licorice & merlot, followed by a heightened sense of chalk and tannins. This feels like surfing slowly and steadily followed by a ride on a prolonged wave that crashes dramatically to create the next slow surf. 94 points.
The tannins at the end are ripe and gushing so this will continue to evolve over the the next 10 years!
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Académie des Cinquante Saint-Emilion Tasting (Restaurant Bolenius *, Amsterdam, NL): Tasted blind twice. (1, wine 14) Hint of walnut, rich fruit, well balanced, lovely balance, finesse, length, 92. (2) Classical style, well balanced, harmonious, floral and fresh, intellectual style, transparent, precise, tannic but flowing, very good length, 93. Similar notes, the first one showing that it is easy to underrate Figeac when tasting very quickly.
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The 2009 Figeac avoids many of the pitfalls of the vintage, not showing any undue heat or extraction. That said, though this shows a plush, deep blueberry, leather, and smoke nose, the details are a little bit smudged. The rich, voluptuous palate is certainly enjoyable but perhaps not distinguished enough to propel this to the next level.
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Bordeaux 2009 Grand Cru / 10-years on / tasted blind: Another wonderful nose here with forest floor, farmyard, dark fruit, very left bank aroma profile. Masculine on the palate, light even, tannins very polished. Long, aromatic finish. Very good. 96+
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Forward, silky, soft, medium-bodied and already a pleasure to drink, the floral, cherry, thyme, tobacco leaf and wet earthy nuances are already blooming here.
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Smooth and balanced are the first two words that come to mind. Earth notes, spice and very smooth dark fruits work in harmony to form a very good wine that over time will continue to integrate, resulting in an exceptional wine 3-5 years down the road.
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Tasted next to a barrel sample of 2018. Quite open, super aromatic and opulent on the nose - dark fruit, tobacco, graphite, spices, crushed stones. Good acidity on the palate, spicy, layers of ripe fruit, nice minerality. Very long. Drink or keep. 94-96
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Berry Brothers 2018 Bordeaux en primeur (plus back vintages) (Lindley Hall, London): After the other very ripe right bank offerings this comes across much more left bank thanks to its Cab Sauv and general lack of over ripeness. Above my expectations and this is a wine I would be drinking by the bottle and think offers very interesting long-term development. I wanted to revisit this but the chateau was a bit stingy in terms of bottles they brought it seems as their table was the first to be cleared at this event (and it wasn't the busiest table in the room).
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During a dinner with the wine maker. Figeac showed well tonight, both the 2005 and 2009. The 2009 had the upper hand with very good freshness and softer structure than the 2005 who felt almost a bit too concentrated and pushed. Where Figeac performed in both vintages was its tell tale wild, almost Medoc, aromas of underbrush, forest floor, pine, smoke adn spices. The greenness was also in check in both vintages.
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Decanted 3,5 hours. Consumed over 2,5 hours. From small bottle (37,5 cl). This seemed younger and less aproachable than the 2009 Pontet Canet or Ducru Beaucaillou i had recently. A touch of heat at the finish and (for me) too much acidity. This might be better with more age but it will need at least 5-10 years. 92 pts at the moment.
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Young, 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.
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Valentines with the SLDS - February 2018 Tasting: Tobacco, show polish, cigar box, cedar, chocolate and roses. Plenty of fine tannin on the palate, with good acidity and fruit power. Good layered depth already, with heaps of potential to improve over the next 20 years.
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Somewhat flamboyant nose, exotic spices, soft, plush, very good extraction, ripe cassis, red macerated cherry with a touch of raisination in the back of the palate; slightly hot (14%) with a smooth plush mouthfeel of soft leather and gravel. This was good but a too ripe for my liking, although not as ripe as some '09's. With Frederic Faye, winemaker. Notes: One of the largest estates on the right bank, same family since 1892, whole cluster; The planting of roughly 1/3 each CS, CF, M started in the late 1950's after the 1956 killer frost.
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The 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.
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The '09 was a model of balance, showing dark, crushed black cherry, undergrowth, haunting florals, and deep earth tones in a lovely and inviting bouquet. The palate was soft yet still structured and refined, with a great balance of acid as hints sour cherry, inner florals, and balsamic spices persisted through a lifted and pretty mid-palate expression. Crushed red berry fruits and spicy tannin lingered long on the finish. This is simply gorgeous today yet poised for greatness as well.
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The Grand Tour - day ten (Bordeaux): Red and black berry and currant, cedar dusty notes, sweet spice. Soft, slightly plummy initial then more red and black fruit, quite sweet and, surprisingly for me, pretty. Tannins are present and drying on the front of the mouth but by no means dominant. Rather splendid and, perhaps, a little polished, Actually with time this begins to gain a little more tertiary leatheryness and, with that , more complexity. Yum.
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Sample from an Enomatic machine. Ripe, plush aromas of concentrated fruit as 2009 so often come across. A different wine in the mouth with leather, earth, tobacco mingled with the fruit. Uplifting acidity and elegance, length and perfect balance. Much too early of course.
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Tasted next to the 2011. Richer and more generous, but also well structured with powerful tannins. Fresh and lively, almost opulent fruit, very persistent and intense finish. Needs time. 94-95+
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Tasted alongside 2009, 2006, 2005, 2004 and 1986. This is more opulent than 2010 more of cassis and cigar box aromas. Rich more prominent fruit and tannin more in the background. Even though its more of that savory fruit its still cool without any over ripeness. Fine tannin and too early still. Try in 2-3 years maybe? 93-95
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Untypical to st. Emilion appellation this vinery has more gravel soil (flint) like rive gauche - similar to cheval blanc - so a CS heavy medoc style wine. Blend is 1/3 each merlot, CF and CS. Produce 160k bottles. Wine is very complex, dark fruit, superbly integrated tannins with good acidity balance. Very round and deep wine. Great vintage.
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An exceptionally good Figeac, not as dense as some in 2009 but plenty of fruit and a real balance. Already integrated and drinkable now (we had a whole 375ml) and will be fantastic in 10yrs. Not very acidic at all (~3.8). Beautiful typical Figeac nose, plush round Merlot mouthfeel before the fantastically trademark long mint and menthol finish from the Cabernet Savignon. Drinks much earlier than Figeacs of old, but retains the class. Just wish this was cheaper!
Based on this, I am definitely a buyer of 2015 Figeac. Should be even better than this and less expensive. All 3 grapes have ripened fully and the Cabernet franc was saved by the September rains. There is lots of it too - yields of 41hl (vs 33 in 2014). So much, they've had to make room for the extra barrels!
While still very youthful it drinks beautifully. Has depth of ripe blackcurrant fruit together with graphite, ink and polished oak and vanilla notes. Could pass for a top California Cabernet but on the palate while ripe and plush has a nice counterbalancing Bordeaux-like savouriness. Overall very well balanced, food friendly and long. Great wine that will only get better with cellaring.
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All the flipping hype and rave...Lots and lots of toasty oak and vanilla in the nose and mouth to cradle what seems to be the beginning of the development of coffee and some earth. Wine has allot of umph in the middle, but very disjointed from the finish with seems inadequate for the mid palate...In conclusion, this wine was NOT READY and Im not so sure that it will get a whole hellofa lot better because of the lack of finish length...As a St. Emillon, for me, I paid too much for my bottles and will try one more in a couple of years and sell the rest...I think that some good 30/40 dollar bottles outperform this today and have a more convincing future. The beauty of the 2009/2010 vintage is all the good wine at awesome prices, not overpaying for the usual suspect and then you have an experience like this...HOLD
OMG! Opened and decanted 3 hours and brought to a blind tasting. No one would have guessed that this was Bordeaux but what I now define as Cali-Bordeaux-Nia as there is definitely characteristics of both regions here. Good deep red & purple hew with slow legs and light sediment. The nose had an awesome scent of crushed berries and hint of flowers. It sipped with an intense dark berry mixture of blueberry, cranberry and some minor cassis with coffee, mocha, hint of vanilla and smooth integrated tannins. The finish was long and delightful. This yummy and powerful Bordeaux lacks any of the skunk found in the region and yet does not evoke the "pop & pour" California experience. This was a grand slam, right bank Bordeaux mélange of Cab Sauvignon, Cab Franc, and Merlot and I wished I had more; no kidding! If the Chateau is reading this then please send me more LOL!
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Drank at Figeac Rich open beautiful nose full of dark fruit, tobacco and chocolate. Wonderful rich deep long palate. Why do bottles always taste better at the Chateau?
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Dégusté une fois doublement décanté. L'oxygène a travaillé, on sent le vin un peu secoué, montrant des arômes de tabac mêlé au cassis mûr. C'est très séduisant, trop jeune bien entendu, mais il vaudra le déplacement dans 15 ans.
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2014 New York Wine Experience Trip; 10/14/2014-10/21/2014 (New York City, NY): This deep ruby wine offers aromas and flavors of cassis, pipe tobacco, dark chocolate, black olive and fennel. Medium-to-full-bodied, fresh, seamlessly alcoholic (13.5%) and with substantial fine-grained tannins, it sails through the middle and closes with a silky smooth finish. This wine's soft textures make it drinkable now, but there is no question that it will benefit from some additional cellaring. Drink 2019-2035.
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Drank in Bordeaux Rich open nose very full with a complex round smooth palate. Long length. Lovely stuff. Open now but really should wait a few more years as this will get better.
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Mövenpickwinetasting: fine nose, hints of coconut and almonds, cherryfruit, on the palate fine and smooth tannin, seems to me as if this wine is beginnig to close down for some (more) years, outstanding finish+, a wine for the very remote future, 90- 93+? but...... the price......, more than 200.-euros......, no comment!
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Le Week-end des Grands Crus (Bordeaux): Great personality with some special, very distinctive aromas of cinnamon rolls and yeast in the midst of the fruit!
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Medium 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.
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Union des Grands Grus 2009 Bordeaux Tasting. Oak and sweet wood on the nose. The pallet was a tannic overload - I could not even begin to rate this wine. Needs lots of time in the cellar.
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2009 Union des Grands Crus de Bordeaux Tasting; 1/27/2012-1/31/2012 (Sheraton Hotel & Towers, Chicago, Illinois): Approximately 35% Cabernet Franc and Sauvignon and 30% Merlot. I expected more from this wine despite the fact that I thought it was the equal or perhaps slightly better than the 2005. Burnt tobacco on the nose. Notes of black currant and espresso. This had more backbone than many of the St. Emilion wines but was very tight and rather closed. 91-94 points.
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UGC Bordeaux (Sheraton Hotel - Chicago IL): There were very divergent opinions amongst people I spoke with today tasting this wine. I wasn't on the positive side, finding it both fleshy and very ripe, not in a very positive way, but without the positive depth, density and concentration that provide length and nuance.
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UGC 2009 Bordeaux Tasting (Sheraton Chicago Hotel & Towers): A whiff of this makes you see how deep, dark & brooding it is, with quite a bit of oak there. The dark fruit is there in the taste, but there is a bit of a menthol in the taste as well that was a bit strong. The finish seemed a bit short.
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2009 UGC Bordeaux Tasting (San Francisco): I thought the nose was closed, not getting anything at all; palate had good fruit with moderate structure but lacked complexity. Either this was very closed or I was not a fan. It may also be possible that it just didn't show well in a tasting context in comparison to other riper bordeaux this year. 88-90 for now, although I hope I get to re-evaluate at some point in the future.
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Leafy green merlot notes, with cab franc green pepper lending herbal perfume on the nose. The palate is a bit jarring – the acidity not yet integrated, lending a picklish feel. But this is distinctly Figeac and will need time to come together. A little spice, not overly lush. Honestly I feel this vintage doesn’t quite suit the house style because ripeness doesn’t play to their strengths. Perhaps up to a 92 eventually, but one might do better picking up the ’08 at a much lower price.
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Union Des Grands Crus de Bordeaux Tasting (New York, NY): Nose: Perfumed nose of Cherry, Raspberry, Sweet Tobacco, Spice, Coconut and some earthy notes. Palate: Cherry, dark raspberry, pickled red onions and espresso. The wine is super silky in the mouth and coats the palate. Finish: Red Berries, Cherry and asian spice notes. The nose on this wine is outstanding.
Great as this is there are equally outstanding wines to be had in 2009 below the $250+ price tag Figeac is commanding in the futures market.
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Union des Grand Crus de Bordeaux 2009 Tasting K&L, nose of blackberry, plum, and forest floor, medium/big body, very nice fruit but seems simple to me today, better in 3 years, medium/long finish.
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Chateau Figeac dinner with Mr. Eric d'Aramon (Ruth Chris - Washington DC): This very ripe wine is not unlike the other 09s. This may be a bit controversial but this show the similar ripe fruit characters as the 09 Pavie. A critic rated this 93-94+ vs 70-75 for Pavie. Crushed blueberries, cassis, licorice, crushed rocks and lavender. This is a big scale, voluptuous wine. The most concentrated and ripest of the night.
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Obvious herbaceous/earthy Cab Franc note on the nose. Good backbone of fruit behind; lovely elegance - not as extracted or big as some but has lovely silky mouthfeel. Earthy notes on the finish. Tannins very well hidden, good length. A really good showing for Figeac here. 93-95
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3/29/2024 - Stanrocks Likes this wine: 95 Points
One of the highlights of our stay in RB
When they start to be drinkable, those Bordeaux really hit the spot ! 95/96
Nose is exquisite, with lovely tertiary notes, pencil shavings and leaves, forrest floor, smoked ham, ham fat (Spanish bellotta) mint and eucalyptus, ...
palate is integrated with Wonderfull balance, salty, long ad complex, cigar box... velvety refined, excellent wine !
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3/25/2024 - steinersing wrote: 95 Points
Crowd pleaser - very seductive and interesting acidity overlay
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2/21/2024 - SWHighlander Likes this wine: 94 Points
Drinking well in its window, but benefits of course from a few hours decant to air out some of the tannins and alcohol. The usual nearly even blend: 35% CabSauv, 35% CabFranc, 30% Merlot. Great vintage, and the winery kept the wine in balance but definitely big and bold. Black fruit over shadows some red notes, tobacco, cedar, and spice.
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1/27/2024 - NMIZ Likes this wine: 96 Points
Chateau Figeac 2009. 96+ (B2,L2,I2,C2). A blend of 35% CS, 35% CF and 30% Merlot, aged 18 months in new French oak. Excellent cork condition. No fault. Deep garnet with a glint. Decanted for 3 hours and enjoyed over 3 hours. Wine was still climbing at the end. Medium plus aroma. Dark (blackberry, black currant) and red fruits (raspberry, strawberry). Violet and rose flowers. Bell Pepper, chalk and wet stones. Black pepper, vanilla, cedar, mint and tobacco. Butter, caramel and rich. Very balanced and has a great length. Very fine and silky tannins. Good intensity and is extremely complex, evolving and improving over time in the glass. Aromas and flavours kept changing over time. Sweet and ripe. Interesting experience. Excellent to drink today but this wine should continue to improve in the bottle for many years. Paired with manchego, mimolette and beaufort d'alpage cheese and crackers. Kawamura Bafun Narabi Uni, ikura, tobiko, prawn and scallop pasta in rich and freshly made uni sauce.
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1/5/2024 - Jeff Leve wrote: 94 Points
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.
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12/14/2023 - brianakrin wrote: 91 Points
Rich, dense a bit of spice,
Comes in light and leaves with a dark crisp finish. Drinking well but will improve.
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10/16/2023 - csimm wrote: 94 Points
At the Figeac Estate. A stellar vintage for Figeac, and one that is really starting to come into a nice drinking window. Steeped black cherry, earth, spice, subtle dust, and black currant. Finishes dry, but with a nice roll of plum, cigar, and soil notes to offer just enough saturation in the back end to warrant another sip. Drink now with some open air, and over the next decade+.
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9/4/2023 - Mleh Likes this wine: 94 Points
Two hours in open bottle + 3hrs in the decanter. Blackcurrant, plum, but also some earth and mushroom, mint too and tobacco. Very dry, tannins still a little tight but nice acidity, very nice bottle.
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8/10/2023 - Ernestas Likes this wine: 95 Points
Tasted at Chateau Figeac, wine #1. One of my favourite chateau in the region, distinctive terroir and mastery of vinification. A blend of 35% CS, 35% CF and 30% Merlot, aged 18 months in new oak. Intense rich and complex aroma of spices, earth, black olives, blackcurrants, dried cherries, tobacco, hint of strawberries and cedar. Medium+ body, concentrated and deep, yet elegant and restrained with smoky fruits, mineral saline hints, impeccable structure, well balanced medium+ acidity & extra fine velvety tannins.
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7/25/2023 - HeavyPourWine Likes this wine: 94 Points
WIN Gastrobar Dinner (Sommelier Guild of Atlanta) (Atlanta, GA): Brought this bottle to ATL Somm Guild dinner. No formal notes (just scores) since this was definitely a social event! I DD it (good amount of sediment) about 1 hour before it was passed around the table. Remember it drinking well for such a short decant and it's age. 94
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7/3/2023 - Burgnick Likes this wine: 93 Points
Decanted for two hours before serving. Fragrant nose with red fruit, cassis, warm spice and herbs. Surprisingly approachable and balanced but it also gained weight and muscle in the decanter. A very feminine Figeac.
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5/26/2023 - HeavyPourWine Likes this wine: 94 Points
A week in Bordeaux (Mouton, Pontet Canet, D'Issan, Langoa & Leoville Barton, SHL, Arbo, Pavie, Fleur de Bouard, Cheval Blanc, VCC, Figeac); 5/21/2023-5/26/2023 (Left and Right banks of Bordeaux): Tasted @ the Chateau. PNP. We tasted this wine in the afternoon after a morning tasting of the amazing VCC '15. That being said, this wine showed quite well. Funny, I was the only one in my small tasting group that scored it this high but I quite enjoyed it. This wine was ready to go with mostly resolved tannins upon PNP (surprised me for an '09). I already have this in my cellar so will start drinking this earlier than I was planning!
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5/17/2023 - Lord of the Bottles Likes this wine: 93 Points
Brooding fruit nose, wood and some red fruit palate, still too young (93-94?)
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5/17/2023 - Lord of the Bottles Likes this wine: 94 Points
The most approachable of the younger vintages, coffee nose, stewed fruit palate, raspberry, very nice if very primary still (94)
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5/16/2023 - nywine68 wrote: 95 Points
Chateau Figeac masterclass: Five decades of a St-Emilion stalwart, from 1966 tp 2016 (67 Pall Mall London): Great complexity. Awesome structure. Darker fruit profile. Emerging saddle leather and barnyard. Tannins a bit dryer than the 2010 which edges it out by one point
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5/16/2023 - RayOB wrote: 93 Points
Drank at 67
Still young but delicious
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4/13/2023 - fcxj wrote: 90 Points
Bit thin imho.
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2/24/2023 - norway08 Likes this wine: 94 Points
Blackcurrant, blackberry, plum, black pepper, leather, tobacco, cedar, licorice, bell pepper… A complex Bordeaux with equal amounts of cabernet sauvignon, merlot and cabernet franc. Full bodied, with ripe tannins, medium acidity and great balance. Very long.
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2/11/2023 - Cailles wrote: 92 Points
20 Vintages of Figeac (1985-2019): 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.
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2/8/2023 - rossi.wine wrote: 95 Points
Stylistically quite different to the 2020 tasted alongside. Expressive and open, very layered and complex on the nose. Riper, darker in terms of fruit profile. On the palate quite soft. Good acidity and unobtrusive tannins. Very good length. Excellent. 94-96
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2/6/2023 - Collector1855 wrote: 93 Points
Chateau Figeac - 35 year vertical tasted blind 1985-2019: The 2009 was shown next to the 2010. This is always interesting as with this vintage (like 1990/1989) it is never clear who will be taking the top spot. Tonight the 2010 (96pt) had the clear edge, showing much more fruit and stuffing on the palate. The 2009 strangely was marked by oak toast and felt quite meager on the palate for the generous vintage. Good tertiary aromas with farmyard. A pity that they were not able to do better in this stellar year. Early drinking window.
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12/31/2022 - Swaggering Beaunie Likes this wine:
Very good, but intense. The oak is still prominent, and I think this wine has just entered its drinking window. We drank it with thick grilled ribeye steaks, which was good, as the wine would not have been as pleasant on its own. If I had another, I'd wait 10-12 years before drinking.
Is this worth $44 per glass? Not yet, I think, but it might be, in time.
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12/26/2022 - jmoon Likes this wine: 95 Points
Absolutely singing. Opened no decant, took a sip, wow, and poured after an hour. Plush delicious roch ripe gorgeous and beautifully balanced.
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12/18/2022 - Xavier Auerbach wrote: 93 Points
A private pre-Christmas Lunch with Friends: After two disappointing bottles in March, this is a convincing performance. Fully mature, well defined flavours, gentle tannins, harmonious and elegant, excellent precision, avoids any excess, very good persistence. I Love how this marries concentration with understated finesse.
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9/25/2022 - Jeff Leve wrote: 94 Points
This 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.
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9/12/2022 - rstark wrote: 93 Points
Cab Franc nose and dusty plum mixed with greenies on the attack ... more tobacco than green pepper. Great savory tones in the mid with long finish, med grip.
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8/5/2022 - Sagan99 Likes this wine: 95 Points
This was fun, fabulously focused and delicious!
Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot, Equally.
13.5% abv
*** With a wine as good as this, I think the winemakers insights provide something to the drinking experience in an afterthought. Similarly, my own notes above are more sparse, with this following description.
Winemaker Notes
With its pedigree style, Chateau Figeac epitomises the elegance of the great wines of Bordeaux. Its unique style gradually shows through and develops over time.
This great wine displays a distinctive rich nose that has wonderful aromatic complexity.
On the palate, the Cabernet Sauvignon reveals lovely floral aromas in the first year then, as the wine ages, great structure on the palate.
The Cabernet Franc brings lots of freshness in the tannins, and...
the Merlot contributes roundness and flesh.
The attack on the palate is clean, the texture is silky, and the complexity elegant.
The characteristic freshness of Figeac is underpinned by great length of flavor.
With its long aging potential, the wine goes on in time to reveal hints of forest floor, leather, cigar-box and licorice – always with its hallmark elegance.
PS- Drink the Rainbow!
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7/17/2022 - norway08 Likes this wine: 95 Points
Blackcurrant, blackberry, plum, black pepper, leather, tobacco, cedar, licorice, bell pepper… A complex Bordeaux with equal amounts of cabernet sauvignon, merlot and cabernet franc. Full bodied, with ripe tannins, medium acidity and great balance. Very long.
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6/1/2022 - dream Likes this wine: 94 Points
There is a gorgeous nose of ripe boysenberry fruit, undergrowth and the sweetest baby farm animals. Deep and full on the palate with intense flavors of smoky dark berries and rich earth with great lift and freshness. Despite its youth and richness, the wine is already expressing this amazing terroir so well as this oozes Figeac dirt. The Cab Sauv in this wine is quite apparent and really adds structure and spice. Even after a long decant, this needs another decade to really hit its stride but its a wow wine in the making. 94+
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5/27/2022 - jviz wrote: 93 Points
Tasted non blind, along with 10 and 18. This was perhaps the most ready to drink, but also the one that will peak the soonest. It was rich and robust, still in balance, a bit of alcoholic heat, baked but not roasted flavors. No precise sense of place owing to its scale but high quality all the same. I’ll be curious to try these in 10 years.
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5/11/2022 - oleksarewa Likes this wine: 94 Points
Tasted at the estate. Beautiful colour and a subtle but fragrant nose. Initial palate showed nutty characteristics, but then evolved into a nice medium to long finish with good acidity, balanced tannins and powerful yet elegant mineral tones.
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3/5/2022 - Xavier Auerbach wrote: 89 Points
Académie des Cinquante Claret Tasting (Restaurant Rijsel, Amsterdam, NL): Tasted blind. Light and bright, drying, lacks generosity and stuffing, very tannic, green finish. Two bottles with consistent notes. A problematic wine today. When I look at e.g. Zweder's tasting note from 17 October 2020, there must be (quite considerable) bottle variation - which is slightly disconcerting for a wine of this price level. (88) Note: I took bottle No. 021481 home with me after the tasting, and on the second day the wine was perfectly intact, it had softened a bit which made it a more pleasant to drink, but the overall issue remained. (89)
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2/12/2022 - melvinyeowq Likes this wine:
Figeac vertical: I thought at first this was rather tannic and unready but others loved this from the get-go more than me. After an hour or so it was really singing with very elegant red fruit that was still primary and youthful. Lovely balance to the wine, rich but very much open for business at the moment. Went with 2005 as I thought 2009 right bank would be a caricature, but was pleasantly surprised. Unanimous winner on the night.
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11/30/2021 - chatters wrote:
Supper with Daniel (E & M's in the rocks, Sydney): Woof. Red and blackberry, plum, currants, caramel, polished oak, tannins are grippy but all is integrated, balanced and long. Absolutely lovely but still very primary.
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11/28/2021 - Opus 52 Likes this wine: 94 Points
Double decanted the wine and let him breathe for another four hours, which seemed necessary to us. Great nose with a nice complexity and different layers of black fruits underlayered with vanilla and mushrooms. On the palate very elegant and quite in the style of the chateau. Nice depth also here, tannins were surprisingly integrated in a very smooth way we thought. Medium acidity, very approachable at the moment, we thought it's not absolutely necessary to wait any longer. Great wine, however with his elegance not typical for right bank 2009.
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9/7/2021 - englishman's claret wrote:
Tasted at the Château, my prior comments regarding the aromatic components stand though the energy and cohesion seem to be much greater indeed, elevating this substantially.
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9/4/2021 - DrZett wrote: 93 Points
Only right bank wine in this flight. Beautiful mixture between dark and red berries. Some chocolate and espresso notes too. Voluptuous body and structure - velvety tannins. A very warm and welcoming wine. Good complexity but lacking a bit in precision. Drink from 2024-2035. (IG)
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7/15/2021 - LiteItOnFire wrote: 89 Points
2021 Bordeaux Tasting Trip; 7/12/2021-7/16/2021 (Bordeaux): A tasting in Bordeaux of 71 wines, some of the best I have ever had and others, umm, well were disappointing. If you read the Tasting story (and my grading history) I think it will do a much better job putting this in perspective.
Tasting at the brand new gorgeous Chateau that will begin the wine making process for the 2021 vintage. This is another chateau hoping to move up in class this next voting period (2022) which they very well may achieve. I have never tasted Figeac but began buying the 2015 vintage due to the pedigree, rumored quality and style changes and my initial planned visit in ‘18 that eventually changed due to the start of their massive renovations.
I was excited to taste based on my inventory and never having the opportunity. While I wanted to taste a newer vintage to learn more about current state, it was interesting to taste a 2009 gran Vin alongside a petit Figeac 2016.
The tasting started with the 2009 and to be honest was very disappointed. The wine lacked the quality and depth I was expecting this gran Vin to deliver. The ‘16 petit offered more in the way of what I would have expected from a chateau of this reputation. Will hold off my assessment of the chateau until I get a better sense of the more recent vintages.
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4/15/2021 - Elpaninaro Likes this wine:
From half bottle
deep red color, rich sweet cherry nose with bright bramble notes, fine cassis core, on the palate young, ripe and vibrant, very lively with firm underbrush notes, much patience required but this is on a very good path, as nicely as the fruit is showing- there is a whole lot of nuance yet to come.
(*****), 2029++
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4/3/2021 - skyblue80 Does not like this wine: 92 Points
For a 2009, this wine was lacking power and complexity. Even after 5hr of decant, nose was rather mediocre and structure lean. Maybe it is the bottle, but I do not think it is worthy of Grand Cru Class A as rumored.
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1/23/2021 - B Paul wrote:
Half bottle. Decanted and then followed over a couple of hours. Chocolate, raspberry and tobacco. Pure and silky. There’s some structure there, though the tannins are very polished and this is drinking very well already (at least out of this format).
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12/15/2020 - JonnyG Likes this wine: 93 Points
I have to admit I liked the intensity and depth of flavor here, with powerful floral, spice and red fruit notes on display in abundance. I see upside as well, as this should balance out and display more nuance in 3-5 years.
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12/14/2020 - eadsaaron Likes this wine: 95 Points
Needs time, but still excellent now. Strong nose of black currant, chocolate, cigar bo, and bell pepper.
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12/3/2020 - winecoffee wrote: 93 Points
Same TN as before. Served with Thanksgiving Turkey. Was really good except the tannins were a bit strong. Onky decantex 30min. Needs 2 hours of decanting at least.
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12/1/2020 - WineTally Likes this wine:
Around even blend of Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Cabernet Franc
from 40 ha of sandy-gravel alluvium soil over 3 hills
and vines of average age 40 yrs.
Traditional vinification in wood and stainless steel vats.
Aged 15-18 months in 100% new French oak barriques.
13.5% Abv. ~100,000 bottles
Proprietors: Thierry Manoncourt (1917–2010) Madame Marie-France Manoncourt
and Hortense Idoine Manoncourt
Managing Directors: Jean-Valmy Nicolas (jointly with Mme Manoncourt)
Technical Manager: Frédéric Faye
Cellarmaster: Guillaume de Laubier
A(ccuracy)=2: Med garnet. Floral, spicy Bordeaux blend.
B(alance)=3: Distinctive fruit with silky tannin in broad structure.
C(omplexity)=2: Dark berries, tea, toast, leather.
D(epth)=2: Round mouthfeel. Full length and finish.
Wine Tally Score [2,3,2,2] = 9/10
Intriguing interplay of the three varietals.
For story-telling label graphics, see:
[https://www.instagram.com/WineTally2020/]
[https://www.facebook.com/WineTally/]
For a unique multimedia resource, see
[https://winetally.wixsite.com/vingnette2020]
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10/17/2020 - Zweder wrote: 95 Points
An easy afternoon with close friends (@ FD): Expressive and luxurious bouquet with vanilla, espresso, caramel and beautiful dark and red berry fruits. On the palate juicy dark and red berries, herbs, chocolate and vanilla. Overall a complex and very beautiful wine with still a lot of power for the future. 2030+
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7/10/2020 - winecoffee wrote: 94 Points
Same TN as last time. Love this wine.
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5/29/2020 - winecoffee Likes this wine: 94 Points
Chateau Figeac 2009. 2009 is rated as the one of the best years of the right bank (https://www.winespectator.com/vintage-charts/region/bordeaux-right-bank-reds-pomerol-st.-emilion/).
Beautiful right bank bordeaux. A slightly suppressed yet complex nose of summer flowers combined with blueberries, damp mushrooms, mud, earth, and cigar. The palate comes in waves: truffles, soft licorice & merlot, followed by a heightened sense of chalk and tannins. This feels like surfing slowly and steadily followed by a ride on a prolonged wave that crashes dramatically to create the next slow surf. 94 points.
The tannins at the end are ripe and gushing so this will continue to evolve over the the next 10 years!
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1/18/2020 - Xavier Auerbach wrote: 93 Points
Académie des Cinquante Saint-Emilion Tasting (Restaurant Bolenius *, Amsterdam, NL): Tasted blind twice. (1, wine 14) Hint of walnut, rich fruit, well balanced, lovely balance, finesse, length, 92. (2) Classical style, well balanced, harmonious, floral and fresh, intellectual style, transparent, precise, tannic but flowing, very good length, 93. Similar notes, the first one showing that it is easy to underrate Figeac when tasting very quickly.
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1/18/2020 - englishman's claret wrote: 91 Points
The 2009 Figeac avoids many of the pitfalls of the vintage, not showing any undue heat or extraction. That said, though this shows a plush, deep blueberry, leather, and smoke nose, the details are a little bit smudged. The rich, voluptuous palate is certainly enjoyable but perhaps not distinguished enough to propel this to the next level.
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10/29/2019 - Collector1855 wrote: 96 Points
Bordeaux 2009 Grand Cru / 10-years on / tasted blind: Another wonderful nose here with forest floor, farmyard, dark fruit, very left bank aroma profile. Masculine on the palate, light even, tannins very polished. Long, aromatic finish. Very good. 96+
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9/20/2019 - Jeff Leve wrote: 91 Points
Forward, silky, soft, medium-bodied and already a pleasure to drink, the floral, cherry, thyme, tobacco leaf and wet earthy nuances are already blooming here.
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9/8/2019 - Romol Likes this wine: 92 Points
Decanted 3 hours. From 375 ml bottle. Still very young. I would recommend to wait at least 5-7 more years. 92 pts at the moment.
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8/5/2019 - Iceman611 wrote: 94 Points
Flawless example of St. Emilion. Wonderfully silky fruit and earth. Good concentration. Medium weight. A bit of eucalyptus on the finish.
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7/21/2019 - TXRDW wrote: 94 Points
Smooth and balanced are the first two words that come to mind. Earth notes, spice and very smooth dark fruits work in harmony to form a very good wine that over time will continue to integrate, resulting in an exceptional wine 3-5 years down the road.
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7/3/2019 - rossi.wine wrote: 95 Points
Tasted next to a barrel sample of 2018. Quite open, super aromatic and opulent on the nose - dark fruit, tobacco, graphite, spices, crushed stones. Good acidity on the palate, spicy, layers of ripe fruit, nice minerality. Very long. Drink or keep. 94-96
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7/3/2019 - BenBlu Likes this wine: 96 Points
Berry Brothers 2018 Bordeaux en primeur (plus back vintages) (Lindley Hall, London): After the other very ripe right bank offerings this comes across much more left bank thanks to its Cab Sauv and general lack of over ripeness. Above my expectations and this is a wine I would be drinking by the bottle and think offers very interesting long-term development. I wanted to revisit this but the chateau was a bit stingy in terms of bottles they brought it seems as their table was the first to be cleared at this event (and it wasn't the busiest table in the room).
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6/17/2019 - steinersing wrote: 94 Points
Great fruit
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11/23/2018 - Collector1855 wrote: 96 Points
During a dinner with the wine maker. Figeac showed well tonight, both the 2005 and 2009. The 2009 had the upper hand with very good freshness and softer structure than the 2005 who felt almost a bit too concentrated and pushed. Where Figeac performed in both vintages was its tell tale wild, almost Medoc, aromas of underbrush, forest floor, pine, smoke adn spices. The greenness was also in check in both vintages.
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9/23/2018 - Romol Likes this wine: 92 Points
Decanted 3,5 hours. Consumed over 2,5 hours. From small bottle (37,5 cl). This seemed younger and less aproachable than the 2009 Pontet Canet or Ducru Beaucaillou i had recently. A touch of heat at the finish and (for me) too much acidity. This might be better with more age but it will need at least 5-10 years. 92 pts at the moment.
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9/21/2018 - Jeff Leve wrote: 93 Points
Young, 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.
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2/14/2018 - CamWheeler wrote: 92 Points
Valentines with the SLDS - February 2018 Tasting: Tobacco, show polish, cigar box, cedar, chocolate and roses. Plenty of fine tannin on the palate, with good acidity and fruit power. Good layered depth already, with heaps of potential to improve over the next 20 years.
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1/15/2018 - peternelson wrote: 92 Points
Somewhat flamboyant nose, exotic spices, soft, plush, very good extraction, ripe cassis, red macerated cherry with a touch of raisination in the back of the palate; slightly hot (14%) with a smooth plush mouthfeel of soft leather and gravel. This was good but a too ripe for my liking, although not as ripe as some '09's.
With Frederic Faye, winemaker.
Notes: One of the largest estates on the right bank, same family since 1892, whole cluster; The planting of roughly 1/3 each CS, CF, M started in the late 1950's after the 1956 killer frost.
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11/18/2017 - Jeff Leve wrote: 93 Points
The 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.
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11/1/2017 - Eric Guido Likes this wine: 94 Points
The '09 was a model of balance, showing dark, crushed black cherry, undergrowth, haunting florals, and deep earth tones in a lovely and inviting bouquet. The palate was soft yet still structured and refined, with a great balance of acid as hints sour cherry, inner florals, and balsamic spices persisted through a lifted and pretty mid-palate expression. Crushed red berry fruits and spicy tannin lingered long on the finish. This is simply gorgeous today yet poised for greatness as well.
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10/11/2017 - chatters wrote:
The Grand Tour - day ten (Bordeaux): Red and black berry and currant, cedar dusty notes, sweet spice. Soft, slightly plummy initial then more red and black fruit, quite sweet and, surprisingly for me, pretty. Tannins are present and drying on the front of the mouth but by no means dominant. Rather splendid and, perhaps, a little polished, Actually with time this begins to gain a little more tertiary leatheryness and, with that , more complexity. Yum.
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7/15/2017 - Mascarello59 Likes this wine: 94 Points
Sample from an Enomatic machine. Ripe, plush aromas of concentrated fruit as 2009 so often come across. A different wine in the mouth with leather, earth, tobacco mingled with the fruit. Uplifting acidity and elegance, length and perfect balance. Much too early of course.
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4/8/2017 - rossi.wine wrote: 95 Points
Tasted next to the 2011. Richer and more generous, but also well structured with powerful tannins. Fresh and lively, almost opulent fruit, very persistent and intense finish. Needs time. 94-95+
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11/21/2016 - Mascarello59 Likes this wine: 93 Points
Tasted alongside 2009, 2006, 2005, 2004 and 1986. This is more opulent than 2010 more of cassis and cigar box aromas. Rich more prominent fruit and tannin more in the background. Even though its more of that savory fruit its still cool without any over ripeness. Fine tannin and too early still. Try in 2-3 years maybe? 93-95
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10/9/2016 - dissler Likes this wine: 95 Points
Untypical to st. Emilion appellation this vinery has more gravel soil (flint) like rive gauche - similar to cheval blanc - so a CS heavy medoc style wine. Blend is 1/3 each merlot, CF and CS. Produce 160k bottles.
Wine is very complex, dark fruit, superbly integrated tannins with good acidity balance. Very round and deep wine. Great vintage.
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3/15/2016 - JulianSkeels Likes this wine: 96 Points
An exceptionally good Figeac, not as dense as some in 2009 but plenty of fruit and a real balance. Already integrated and drinkable now (we had a whole 375ml) and will be fantastic in 10yrs. Not very acidic at all (~3.8). Beautiful typical Figeac nose, plush round Merlot mouthfeel before the fantastically trademark long mint and menthol finish from the Cabernet Savignon. Drinks much earlier than Figeacs of old, but retains the class. Just wish this was cheaper!
Based on this, I am definitely a buyer of 2015 Figeac. Should be even better than this and less expensive. All 3 grapes have ripened fully and the Cabernet franc was saved by the September rains. There is lots of it too - yields of 41hl (vs 33 in 2014). So much, they've had to make room for the extra barrels!
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1/31/2016 - Stefanos T. Likes this wine: 95 Points
While still very youthful it drinks beautifully.
Has depth of ripe blackcurrant fruit together with graphite, ink and polished oak and vanilla notes. Could pass for a top California Cabernet but
on the palate while ripe and plush has a nice counterbalancing Bordeaux-like savouriness.
Overall very well balanced, food friendly and long.
Great wine that will only get better with cellaring.
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11/29/2015 - Purple Tooth wrote: 92 Points
All the flipping hype and rave...Lots and lots of toasty oak and vanilla in the nose and mouth to cradle what seems to be the beginning of the development of coffee and some earth. Wine has allot of umph in the middle, but very disjointed from the finish with seems inadequate for the mid palate...In conclusion, this wine was NOT READY and Im not so sure that it will get a whole hellofa lot better because of the lack of finish length...As a St. Emillon, for me, I paid too much for my bottles and will try one more in a couple of years and sell the rest...I think that some good 30/40 dollar bottles outperform this today and have a more convincing future. The beauty of the 2009/2010 vintage is all the good wine at awesome prices, not overpaying for the usual suspect and then you have an experience like this...HOLD
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6/13/2015 - aerosol wrote: 95 Points
OMG! Opened and decanted 3 hours and brought to a blind tasting. No one would have guessed that this was Bordeaux but what I now define as Cali-Bordeaux-Nia as there is definitely characteristics of both regions here. Good deep red & purple hew with slow legs and light sediment. The nose had an awesome scent of crushed berries and hint of flowers. It sipped with an intense dark berry mixture of blueberry, cranberry and some minor cassis with coffee, mocha, hint of vanilla and smooth integrated tannins. The finish was long and delightful. This yummy and powerful Bordeaux lacks any of the skunk found in the region and yet does not evoke the "pop & pour" California experience. This was a grand slam, right bank Bordeaux mélange of Cab Sauvignon, Cab Franc, and Merlot and I wished I had more; no kidding! If the Chateau is reading this then please send me more LOL!
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6/5/2015 - RayOB wrote: 96 Points
Drank at Figeac
Rich open beautiful nose full of dark fruit, tobacco and chocolate. Wonderful rich deep long palate. Why do bottles always taste better at the Chateau?
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11/28/2014 - stadler Likes this wine:
Dégusté une fois doublement décanté. L'oxygène a travaillé, on sent le vin un peu secoué, montrant des arômes de tabac mêlé au cassis mûr. C'est très séduisant, trop jeune bien entendu, mais il vaudra le déplacement dans 15 ans.
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10/17/2014 - La Cave d'Argent Likes this wine: 94 Points
2014 New York Wine Experience Trip; 10/14/2014-10/21/2014 (New York City, NY): This deep ruby wine offers aromas and flavors of cassis, pipe tobacco, dark chocolate, black olive and fennel. Medium-to-full-bodied, fresh, seamlessly alcoholic (13.5%) and with substantial fine-grained tannins, it sails through the middle and closes with a silky smooth finish. This wine's soft textures make it drinkable now, but there is no question that it will benefit from some additional cellaring. Drink 2019-2035.
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10/17/2014 - lolo66 wrote:
NY Wine Experience 2014 (Marriot Marquis): this was shut down and muted. Some earth, graphite, and mint? tough read on this one for me.
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8/26/2014 - RayOB wrote: 94 Points
Drank in Bordeaux
Rich open nose very full with a complex round smooth palate. Long length. Lovely stuff. Open now but really should wait a few more years as this will get better.
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2/26/2013 - fc1910 wrote: 91 Points
Mövenpickwinetasting: fine nose, hints of coconut and almonds, cherryfruit, on the palate fine and smooth tannin, seems to me as if this wine is beginnig to close down for some (more) years, outstanding finish+, a wine for the very remote future, 90- 93+? but...... the price......, more than 200.-euros......, no comment!
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5/30/2012 - DonalOB wrote: 92 Points
Grande Bordeaux Tasting, 2009 (Harbour Grand Kowloon, Hong Kong): Elegant nose. Round with a good finish.
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5/12/2012 - Bisty Likes this wine: 95 Points
Le Week-end des Grands Crus (Bordeaux): Great personality with some special, very distinctive aromas of cinnamon rolls and yeast in the midst of the fruit!
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2/10/2012 - Jeff Leve wrote: 92 Points
Medium 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.
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1/29/2012 - mike410 wrote: 85 Points
Union Des Grands Crus de Bordeaux Tasting (MONTREAL). Hard to drink. Weird musty taste.
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1/29/2012 - mcease wrote:
Union des Grands Grus 2009 Bordeaux Tasting. Oak and sweet wood on the nose. The pallet was a tannic overload - I could not even begin to rate this wine. Needs lots of time in the cellar.
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1/27/2012 - lumpyelbow wrote:
Union des Grands Crus de Bordeaux 2009 (Metro Toronto Convention Centre, Toronto, ON): For Figeac, showing very well. Such purity. Really caught me off guard but then again so did the price. Excellent wine.
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1/27/2012 - Vino Me wrote: 92 Points
2009 Union des Grands Crus de Bordeaux Tasting; 1/27/2012-1/31/2012 (Sheraton Hotel & Towers, Chicago, Illinois): Approximately 35% Cabernet Franc and Sauvignon and 30% Merlot. I expected more from this wine despite the fact that I thought it was the equal or perhaps slightly better than the 2005. Burnt tobacco on the nose. Notes of black currant and espresso. This had more backbone than many of the St. Emilion wines but was very tight and rather closed. 91-94 points.
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1/26/2012 - Burgundy Al wrote: 89 Points
UGC Bordeaux (Sheraton Hotel - Chicago IL): There were very divergent opinions amongst people I spoke with today tasting this wine. I wasn't on the positive side, finding it both fleshy and very ripe, not in a very positive way, but without the positive depth, density and concentration that provide length and nuance.
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1/26/2012 - Wine Sparty wrote: 93 Points
UGC 2009 Bordeaux Tasting (Sheraton Chicago Hotel & Towers): A whiff of this makes you see how deep, dark & brooding it is, with quite a bit of oak there. The dark fruit is there in the taste, but there is a bit of a menthol in the taste as well that was a bit strong. The finish seemed a bit short.
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1/26/2012 - aagrawal wrote: 89 Points
2009 UGC Bordeaux Tasting (San Francisco): I thought the nose was closed, not getting anything at all; palate had good fruit with moderate structure but lacked complexity. Either this was very closed or I was not a fan. It may also be possible that it just didn't show well in a tasting context in comparison to other riper bordeaux this year. 88-90 for now, although I hope I get to re-evaluate at some point in the future.
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1/25/2012 - amateurwino wrote: 90 Points
Leafy green merlot notes, with cab franc green pepper lending herbal perfume on the nose. The palate is a bit jarring – the acidity not yet integrated, lending a picklish feel. But this is distinctly Figeac and will need time to come together. A little spice, not overly lush. Honestly I feel this vintage doesn’t quite suit the house style because ripeness doesn’t play to their strengths. Perhaps up to a 92 eventually, but one might do better picking up the ’08 at a much lower price.
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1/24/2012 - RockinCabs wrote: 92 Points
Union Des Grands Crus de Bordeaux Tasting (New York, NY): Nose: Perfumed nose of Cherry, Raspberry, Sweet Tobacco, Spice, Coconut and some earthy notes. Palate: Cherry, dark raspberry, pickled red onions and espresso. The wine is super silky in the mouth and coats the palate. Finish: Red Berries, Cherry and asian spice notes. The nose on this wine is outstanding.
Great as this is there are equally outstanding wines to be had in 2009 below the $250+ price tag Figeac is commanding in the futures market.
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1/23/2012 - vinole wrote: 95 Points
2009 Bordeaux Union des Grands Crus Tasting (The Doral Resort & Spa, Miami, FL): Lovely plum and currant fruit that has a wonderful balance of tannin, acidity, and concentration that is quite pleasurable to drink now and will be exquisite in the future.
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1/23/2012 - alanr wrote: 91 Points
UGC 2009 Bordeaux tasting San Francisco: Nice medium dark red fruit, fairly tannic, bit chalky, touch of tartness on the finish.
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1/21/2012 - bestdamncab Likes this wine: 90 Points
Union des Grand Crus de Bordeaux 2009 Tasting K&L, nose of blackberry, plum, and forest floor, medium/big body, very nice fruit but seems simple to me today, better in 3 years, medium/long finish.
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1/18/2012 - dcwino wrote: 95 Points
Chateau Figeac dinner with Mr. Eric d'Aramon (Ruth Chris - Washington DC): This very ripe wine is not unlike the other 09s. This may be a bit controversial but this show the similar ripe fruit characters as the 09 Pavie. A critic rated this 93-94+ vs 70-75 for Pavie. Crushed blueberries, cassis, licorice, crushed rocks and lavender. This is a big scale, voluptuous wine. The most concentrated and ripest of the night.
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10/18/2011 - vespasian wrote: 94 Points
Obvious herbaceous/earthy Cab Franc note on the nose. Good backbone of fruit behind; lovely elegance - not as extracted or big as some but has lovely silky mouthfeel. Earthy notes on the finish. Tannins very well hidden, good length. A really good showing for Figeac here. 93-95
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6/28/2010 - Jeff Leve wrote: 92 Points
2009 Figeac opens with notes of blackberries, cassis, minerality, and licorice. The wine finishes with dark berries and spice. 90-93 Pts
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