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Figeac 2013

RegionBordeaux
Subregion France > Bordeaux > Right Bank > St Emilion
ColourRed
TypeStill
Grape VarietyMerlot/Cabernet Franc/Cabernet Sauvignon

View all vintages of this wine | View all wines by Château Figeac

Label

Tasting Notes

Blueberry and blackberry aromas and flavors. Full body, very tannic with loads of fruit. This is 50% cabernet sauvignon. A structured 2013. Impressive. Better in 2018.

93
James Suckling, JamesSuckling.com, February 2016

Made from 50% Merlot, 30% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 20% Cabernet Franc, the 2013 Figeac is deep garnet colored. It gives up restrained notions of dried mulberries, prunes, and kirsch, leading to hints of pencil lead, eucalyptus, pencil shavings, and fragrant earth. Medium-bodied, the palate is lively and refreshing with a well-balanced texture of chewy tannins and plenty of maturing dried berries flavors, finishing on a stewed tea note.

93
Lisa Perrotti-Brown MW, The Wine Independent, May 2022

The final blend, from yields of 36 hectoliters per hectare, is 50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot and 20% Cabernet Franc. With an average alcohol of 13%, the wine is outstanding and probably, for me, the best Figeac in many a year - even though it is from a difficult vintage. A tribute to not only Madame Manoncourt, but to Jean-Valmy Nicolas and Michel Rolland. The wine is a dense ruby/purple with a beautiful nose of creme de cassis, cedar wood and a touch of tobacco leaf. The wine is medium-bodied and has opulence on the attack, after which tannins kick in. This exhibits good purity and far more texture and depth than about any recent Figeac has possessed. A wine that was over-cropped, picked underripe and simply a major underperformer for such a great terroir. It should drink well for 10-15 years.

With 100-plus acres, Figeac is St.-Emilion-s largest single vineyard and is situated on an outcropping of graves, hence the decision decades ago to plant a good bit of Cabernet Sauvignon. Fortunately, Madame Manoncourt, who took control of the family estate after her husband died, has had the foresight to bring in Jean-Valmy Nicolas of La Conseillante and also hire Michel Rolland to look after the wine. For the first full vintage, he-s had to work with this 2013, and while some people in Bordeaux thought this was the wine of the vintage, I-m not prepared to go that far. It certainly is a huge improvement (and keep in mind the raw materials had to be far less impressive than, for example, what would have been available in 2009 or 2010). The harvest took place October 1, with the Cabernet harvested during the week of October 9-15.

89/91
Robert Parker, Wine Advocate ((214)), August 2014

Tasted at the property, the 2013 Figeac was the first vintage that saw Michel Rolland assist with the blending. It has a very respectable bouquet for the vintage. Serve this blind and see if your guest would suggest it was from this derided vintage. The nose is delineated and fresh with blackberry, wild strawberry and minty scents emanating from the Cabernet component. The palate is well balanced with crisp tannin, well balanced with good substance for a 2013. What I appreciate here is that it maintains the style of Figeac: structured with just a touch of austerity, backed up by a crisp line of acidity and a cedar-tinged finish. If you are intending to purchase a 2013 Right Bank, then I would park you car here. Drink: 2018 - 2032

91
Neal Martin, Wine Advocate (226), August 2016

A year when it paid to have the greater flexiblity in blending that was introduced under Frederic Faye and Michel Rolland. This has an enjoyable juicy finish along with unmistakable notes of earthy rose stems, cloves and raspberry leaf. There is some attractive smoke also, and it is handled with finesse and skill but can not sidestep the vintage altogether. Harvest October 1 to 15, yield 36hl/h, 100% new oak for ageing.

89
Jane Anson, JaneAnson.com, March 2022

One of the great names and terroirs of Saint Emilion whose wines exude class and sophistication rather than raw power. There has been some serious improvements here recently under winemaker Frédéric Faye. Michel Rolland has been brought in to consult - but not to change the unique Figeac style. Modern techniques such as vibrating sorting tables, de-stemming and an optical laser sorting line are being used, as well as 100% new oak barrels from 7 different coopers. As a consequence the wines produced now seem a little riper and more polished than before but are still fine, pure and classic. Unusually for the right bank there is only 30% Merlot in the vineyard with 35% Cabernet Franc and - rare on the right bank - 35% Cabernet Sauvignon. Valmy Nicolas from La Conseillante has been brought in to sort out the commercial side and we are assured that prices will be reasonable now after the over-ambitious levels of 2009 and 2010.

The final blend of the 2013 vintage is 50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot, 20% Cabernet Franc. This is one of St Emilion's best wines in 2013. Good deep colour, with a loganberry and barbecue smoke note to the nose, the palate is medium weight but succulent and rounded with an attractive creamy texture. Some cedar and cool black fruit is structured by naturally firm tannins. This wine is harmonious, unforced, attractive, balanced and ripe. A very good effort indeed for the vintage. We were very impressed by Figeac this year.

92
Farr Vintners, April 2014

The 2013 Château Figeac is a tweaked blend (the blend is normally one-third each of Merlot, Cabernet and Cabernet Franc) and is 50% Cabernet Sauvignon and the balance a mix of Merlot and Franc. It sports a healthy ruby color as well as medium-bodied notes of dark fruits, leafy herbs, and earth. While a fair step back from the other vintages here, it’s nevertheless a beautiful, elegant wine I’d happily drink over the coming 10-15 years. 2018 - 2033

90
Jeb Dunnuck, JebDunnuck.com, November 2017
92
Tim Atkin MW, timatkin.com, April 2014
Read more tasting notes...

Picked between 1 and 15 October, it is a blend of 30% Merlot, 20% Cabernet Franc and 50% Cabernet Sauvignon, a high percentage of the latter, which might surprise a few naysayers. Cropped at 36hl/ha, the Figeac 2013 is being matured in 100% new oak. The bouquet is clean and fresh, the Cabernet offering a touch of fresh mint to the dark berry fruit, the oak nicely assimilated. The palate is medium-bodied with fine tannins. There is clearly a fine bead of acidity; a harmonious and silky smooth Figeac with shimmering black fruit seguing into an understated charming finish. I have read a lot about Michel Rolland supposedly creating a blockbuster wine when in fact the truth is that Frederic Faye, with Michel as consultant, has created a classic Figeac that will give great pleasure over the next 15 to 20 years.

91
Neal Martin, RobertParker.com, April 2014
Please note that these tasting notes/scores are not intended to be exhaustive and in some cases they may not be the most recently published figures. However, we always do our best to add latest scores and reviews when these come to our attention. We advise customers who wish to purchase wines based simply on critical reviews to carry out further research into the latest reports.