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Figeac 2021

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

One of the great names and terroirs of Saint Emilion whose wines exude class and sophistication rather than raw power. There have been some serious improvements here recently under winemaker Frédéric Faye. 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. A sizeable part of production is relegated to the second label - Petit Figeac. Stunning wines in recent vintages make Figeac one of the hottest properties in Bordeaux. An incredible new winery was completed here in 2021.

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

Label

Tasting Notes

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+
William Kelley, RobertParker.com, February 2024

The 2021 Figeac was picked from September 21 until October 19 and matured, as usual, in 100% new oak. It has a very pure, elegant bouquet, the Cabernet Sauvignon imparting subtle pencil lead notes, blackberry and briar, almost understated at first but gaining vigor with aeration. The palate is medium-bodied with supple tannins, a fine bead of acidity and just the right amount of sapidity. There is unerring symmetry about this Figeac, which is extremely focused yet unconcerned about showing off. There is lovely piquancy on the finish. Unequivocally one the finest Right Bank wines in 2021. Frédéric Faye continues to guide Figeac to the pinnacle of the appellation. (13.0% alcohol)

95/97
Neal Martin, vinous.com, May 2022

The 2021 is the first vintage to be made in the hugely impressive new winery at Figeac that allows fermentation to be much more precise by lot. It is fully 40% Cabernet Sauvignon and 31% Cabernet Franc, with the remaining 29% Merlot. The abv is 13%, with harvest carried out from 21st September until October 19th. The risk taken in holding off harvest of 29 hectares of Cabernets until mid-October has paid off, with forecast rain much reduced and riper fruit flavour and tannin the reward. The Merlots came in at 12.5% abv, with the younger vines finding greater ripeness as the shallow roots created more hydric stress. The Cabernets came in at 13.5-13.7% abv, so the resulting wine is 13%. Volumes are 10% down on last year. Deep purple in colour. High energy on the nose with intense cassis, clove and nutmeg together with charcoal, roasted plums and graphite. The palate has real matière, but - as Frédéric Faye alludes to - the extraction of tannin has been managed very well. Chewy and richly structured as Figeac should be, there is a tempering of the firmer elements that allows the blue and black fruit to shine. A little herbal, minty character comes together with sweet spice to layer complexity on the fruit. Tightly wound and vertical, this intense and long wine will reward patience in the cellar, both to unfurl and to allow the still smoky wood to integrate fully. It should then prove another excellent showing and a worthy first wine to christen the new chai.

94/96
Thomas Parker MW, Farr Vintners, April 2022

A red with lots of dark-fruit, graphite and tar aromas and flavors. It’s medium-bodied and very integrated with firm, polished tannins and a long finish. Racy and compact. Silky texture.

94/95
James Suckling, JamesSuckling.com, May 2022

The 2021 Figeac is a blend of 40% Cabernet Sauvignon, 31% Cabernet Franc, and 29% Merlot, with the Merlot harvested from 21 September to 1 October. Deep garnet-purple colored, it slowly unfurls in the glass, releasing languid notions of redcurrants, black raspberries, and mulberries, followed by hints of iron ore, violets, star anise, and menthol with a hint of graphite. Medium-bodied, the palate is elegant with ripe, grainy Cabernet-led tannins, featuring great tension and lots of bright red fruit and mineral layers, finishing long and ferrous. pH 3.65.
2027-2050

94/96
Lisa Perrotti-Brown MW, The Wine Independent, May 2022

Lovely aromatics right off the bat, good spice, white peppers, touches of savoury cassis. This 71% mix of the two Cabernets is the highest ever at Figeac, and you feel it in this savoury, rosebud, leafy character to the palate, brilliantly handled and one of the wines of the vintage. This delivers careful balance, sculpted fruits, with a juicy finish. 100% new oak. Romain Jean-Pierre technical director. 38hl/h yield, harvest September 21 to October 19 (with a three week gap between Merlot and Cabernet). 3.65ph. First vintage with the new cellar. 70% production into Figeac, 8% press wine. Tasted twice, excellent quality.

97
Jane Anson, JaneAnson.com, April 2022

40% Cabernet Sauvignon, 31% Cabernet Franc, 29% Merlot. 38 hl/ha. 70% of production. First vintage made in the new cellar. Cask sample.
Berry fruit with just a hint of oak. Sappy with plenty of freshness and drive. Velvety attack then a firm tannic structure all the way through. Just a hint of grainy tannin on the finish. Long. Typically Figeac in style. (JL) 13%
Drink 2028 – 2046

17+
James Lawther MW, JancisRobinson.com, May 2022
Read more tasting notes...

One of the highlights of the vintage on the Right Bank, the 2021 Figeac is a blend of 40% Cabernet Sauvignon, 31% Cabernet Franc and 29% Merlot, and the fruit of a harvest that lasted a full month, from September 21 to October 19, with each parcel picked at optimal maturity. Offering up aromas of blackberries, cassis, rose petals, violets, cigar wrapper and sweet soil tones, it's medium to full-bodied, supple and seamless, its velvety attack segueing into a deep, layered core of beautifully vibrant fruit, concluding with a long, saline finish. The first vintage vinified in Figeac's new winery, it's a resounding success for administrator Frédéric Faye and his team.

94/97
William Kelley, Wine Advocate (260), April 2022
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.