Château Figeac 2022
• Domaine: Château Figeac
• Appellation: Saint-Émilion
• Classification: Premier Grand Cru Classé A
• Origin: Right Bank, Bordeaux, France
Château Figeac is considered one of the jewels of the picturesque Saint-Émilion village. It is situated next to Château Cheval Blanc, one of the champions of the appellation.
This unique Right Bank producer yields wines that rival some of the finest in the Médoc. Due to higher percentage of Cabernet Sauvignon going into the wine, a characteristic unique to Château Figeac among Right Bank producers, thanks to its well-endowed terrior, its wine has a remarkable aging potential unlike most of the wines from the area - more accessible while young, Merlot dominant. As the years progress, if well-cellared, Château Figeac continues to dazzle, impress, and grow more coveted with each passing vintage. In fact, demand is so high for offerings of Château Figeac that many buyers who are fortunate enough to come into contact with a bottle often purchase it immediately — for they never know when it will sell out.
One of the many attributes that makes this Saint-Émilion producer such a viticultural tour de force is its unique terroir. Château Figeac is located in what is known as the Graves region of Saint-Émilion. Very few producers in the Right Bank are fortunate enough to experience the luxury of this enviable terroir. The special gravel topsoil is heat absorbing, light reflecting, and excellent for drainage. Unlike the majority of Saint-Émilion’s limestone and clay heavy soils that are well suited for cultivating Merlot and Cabernet Franc, Château Figeac’s special terroir is perfect for growing Cabernet Sauvignon. The estate’s 40 hectares of vineyards are evenly planted with Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Cabernet Franc.
Château Figeac is one of the oldest vineyards in the Right Bank. The Romans saw the land’s great potential and cultivated vines on the estate approximately 2,000 years ago. Château Figeac received its name in the 18th Century, and the enormous 200-hectare estate continued to change hands over the ages. As ownership changed, parcels were sold off, including some to the legendary Château Cheval Blanc. Eventually the estate was procured by Thierry Manoncourt who was known as, “the Pharaoh of Saint-Émilion.” Manoncourt showed an unprecedented level of commitment to Château Figeac and was responsible for a number of innovations at the estate. He introduced temperature controlled stainless steel vats to the fermentation room and oversaw the production of Château Figeac’s second wine, Le Petit Figeac. Château Figeac was the first Right Bank producer to set the precedent of creating a Second Wine, and many other châteaux followed suit shortly thereafter. Manoncourt was considered a giant within the wine industry, and this former President of the Saint-Émilion Jurats proudly championed the entire region. Unfortunately, in 2010 he passed away and the estate has been managed by his widow, Madame Marie-France Manoncourt. After a brief period of uncertainty, Château Figeac rebounded spectacularly with a legendary vintage in 2015.
In 1955, during the first official classificationi of Saint-Émilion, Château Figeac was classified as a Premiere Grand Cru Classés Class B Estate -- a high honor. Only Château Ausone and Châteaux Cheval Blanc were catapulted into a higher tier - Premiere Grand Cru Classés Class A. Expectations have been building that at the next reranking and reclassification of Saint-Émilion, Figeac is most likely to be promoted into the top rank - Premiere Grand Cru Classés Class A. Given the price appreciation Château Pavie and Château Angelus saw after their promotion to Class A in 2012, it is no surprise speculative buyers are snatching up Château Figeac all around the world.
Tasting Notes
"A blend of 35% Merlot, 34% Cabernet Franc and 31% Cabernet Sauvignon, the 2022 Figeac is a brilliant wine with which to celebrate this property's elevation to Premier Grand Cru Classé "A" status. Wafting from the glass with aromas of raspberries and cassis mingled with notions of iris, forest floor, cigar wrapper and pencil lead, it's medium to full-bodied, pure and perfumed, with a deep and multidimensional core of fruit, bright acids and beautifully refined tannins. Serious yet civilized, it's the quintessential Figeac, testament to the late Thierry Manoncourt's vision to plant such a large proportion of Cabernet, and on drought-resistant rootstocks. Such is the inherent complexity of Figeac's terroirs that harvest took place sub-block by sub-block between September 1st and 25th. Congratulations are in order for the Manoncourt family, director Frédéric Faye, consulting winemaker Thomas Duclos and all their team." - William Kelley, The Wine Advocate, (05/02/2023), Ratings: 98-100
"An incredibly impressive wine in 2022 shaping up to be the wine of the vintage not only as it seems to defy the hot and dry conditions in every way but delivers such confidence and charm it makes it hard to resist. Gorgeous aromatic expression on the nose, open and alive, generous scents of bright bramble fruit and floral notes as well as graphite and cedar. Smooth, supple and generous on the palate, tannins are silky and perfectly weighted giving roundness but also structure with a red berry juiciness and saline bite that is so compelling. Vibrant, dynamic, balanced and precise, the energy is outstanding yet there’s still depth, weight and power underneath. There's not a single thing out of place - utterly seductive and totally moreish. A great effort from the estate now proudly displaying their upgrade to St-Emilion Premier Grand Cru Classé A for the first time as of the new classification. 3.7pH. 8% press wine. 82% grand vin production. Harvest 1 - 26 September, the earliest ever." - Georgina Hindle, Decanter, (05/25/2023), Ratings: 98-100
"A towering, statuesque Saint-Émilion, the 2022 Figeac is positively stellar. What a wine. The 2022 was bottled at the end of July 2023, a bit late by current standards, so it is a bit reticent. What impresses most is the wine's total integration and balance. All the elements are in the right places. Time in the glass brings out some of the floral qualities of the Cabernets, but this is a wine readers should not be thinking of opening anytime soon. Power and finesse—it's all there." - Antonio Galloni, Vinous, (01/28/2025), Ratings: 98
"Vibrant damson in colour, edges of gunsmoke and red rose petals on the aromatics, as you so often find in Figeac, with dense cassis, black cherry, incense, graphite, slate, mint leaf, cocoa bean, cappucino and liquorice on the palate. This is creamy but airy, and full of joy. Close to the 2016 vintage in its construction and effortless confidence, no question of the ageing ability of this wine, and a fine vintage to mark the first year as Premier Grand Cru Classé A. Breaking down how they got here, you find inevitably careful winemaking with no pumping over, cool 26C for fermentation, making use of techniques learnt in the hot, dry summer of 2018, from cover crops to minimum green harvesting. Blend finished including 8% press in March, 3.7ph, harvest began September 1, earliest on record, until 26, second vintage in new winery. Frederic Faye director." - Jane Anson, Inside Bordeaux, (04/20/2023), Ratings: 98, Drink: 2032-2050
LWIN | 2964586 |
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Stock Status | Pre-Arrival |
Appellation | Saint-Emilion |
Vintage | 2022 |
Brand | Château Figeac |
Shipping Weight | 3.000000 |