Chateau Figeac 2021

Chateau Figeac, Premier Grand Cru Classé St Emilion, Bordeaux, France, 2021

Grapes: 40% Cabernet Sauvignon, 31% Cabernet Franc and 29% Merlot, 40ha vineyard on gravel/clay soil, hand harvested, sustainable viticulture, yield 38hl/ha, aged 15-18 months in 100% new oak French barrels

Producer Tasting Note:

First to be appreciated is the colour, with deep shades of crimson that recall Tyrian purple. On the nose, the wildly appealing Merlot notes of its youth give way to striking depth that is balm to the soul of all Cabernet lovers. Its aromas reflect the lightness of the soil, expressed in a highly subtle, ethereal bouquet in which notes of peony, infused fruit and graphite demonstrate bright vitality. The two-thirds of Cabernet in the blend quite literally sculpt the body, strengthening the grip from the mid-palate and rolling out a long, taut and vibrant backbone with very pure mineral notes on the finish. The whole is perfectly enfolded in lush, satin tannins in the style of the highest of high fashion. With time, the wine develops flavours of tobacco-leaf with hints of black truffle, while retaining incomparable freshness of fruit.

Critics' Tastings Notes:

"Floral, energetic, and fresh, this is the perfect example of elegance and class. The nose, with its bouquet of flowers is made even better with the addition of cigar wrappers, mint, cherries, plums, black raspberries, cocoa and espresso. The medium-bodied palate is fresh, with layers of red, and dark red fruits, refined-textures, and a finish with length, purity, and a salty savory, minty endnote. This is a perfect example of a modern classic wine blending 40% Cabernet Sauvignon, 31% Cabernet Franc and 29% Merlot." Drink from 2026-2055

96/100 points, Jeff Leve, THE WINE CELLAR INSIDER, March 2024

"A wine that transcends the vintage's challenges, the 2021 Figeac is performing brilliantly in bottle, wafting from the glass with aromas of raspberries and cherries mingled with striking top notes of violet, rose petal, iris and mint. Medium to full-bodied, satiny and suave, it's pure and vibrant, its enveloping core of fruit framed by ultra-refined tannins, concluding with a long, floral finish. Readers in the habit of drinking top grand cru Burgundy are liable to find themselves seduced by this immensely elegant, perfumed Saint-Émilion, a wine I'll definitely be adding to my own cellar. It's the result of gamble that paid off, as Figeac's team chose to wait to pick their Cabernet Sauvignon despite the menace of forecast rain—a menace that, in fact, scarcely transpired. The 2021 saw a somewhat shorter-than-usual élevage of 16 months in barrel without fining." Drink 2027-2050

96+/100 points, Wiliam Kelley, WINE ADVOCATE, February 2024