| Region | |
|---|---|
| Subregion | France > Bordeaux > Right Bank > St Emilion |
| Colour | Red |
| Type | Still |
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. A sizeable part of production is relegated to the second label - Petit Figeac.
The 2016 Figeac was bottled at the end of July 2018, since Frédéric Faye wanted to give the wine more time in barrel to develop more harmony. The stunning 24-carat bouquet rivets you to the spot with brilliant delineation and mineral-rich red fruit that articulates its terroir as well as any Right Bank you will find. The palate is medium-bodied with svelte tannin, perfect acidity, wonderfully integrated new oak and enormous depth toward the fresh, pencil-box- and cedar-infused finish. This is a classic Figeac, up there with the 1947 and 1949, both recently re-tasted and testifying to a wine that genuinely belongs among the elite Saint-Émilions. Faye believes it is the best Figeac he has ever made. He is correct. Drink 2023-2060.
This is a very linear and driven Figeac with smooth and fine tannins. Full-bodied, yet compact and reserved. Blackberry, chocolate and hazelnut flavors. Direct and structured. A blend of 38 per cent cabernet sauvignon, 36 per cent merlot, and 26 per cent cabernet franc. Better after 2024.
The 2016 Figeac is composed of 38% Cabernet Sauvignon, 36% Merlot, and 26% Cabernet Franc. Deep garnet-purple colored, it needs a lot of swirling to slowly coax out the powerful nose of creme de cassis, Morello cherries, and blueberry preserves, followed by hints of dried roses, clove oil, licorice, and dark chocolate with wafts of truffles and iron ore. The medium to full-bodied palate is a relative behemoth in terms of structure and intensity but not weight, delivering a rock-solid foundation of super-firm, super-ripe tannins and just enough freshness to support the dense, muscular fruit, finishing very long and with tons of earth and mineral sparks.
Damson in colour and aromatics, this is reserved but not subdued at 6 years old, not yet ready to be drunk but showcasing already the ripe texture and layers of powerful blackcurrant pastille, blackberry and bilberry fruits. The minerality and salinity is striking also with touches of mandarin peel, cigar box, espresso, lemongrass even - pulses of fresher acidity that give poise and lift. Clearly exceptional, muscled and concentrated. 100% new oak.
Lively and very Figeac. Just as it should be. Zesty and confident and of the place. Rich palate entry and then lovely freshness. Firm and glorious. Like an arrow. Very pure. Frédéric Faye and the Manoncourt family should be very proud. Classic. Racy and juicy and beautifully balanced. Long. 14%
Drink 2024-2040
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. 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. A sizeable part of production is relegated to the second label - Petit Figeac. 100,000 bottles of the 2016 Figeac will be made, with 38% Cabernet Sauvignon, 36% Merlot, and 26% Cabernet Franc. Deep colour with a brooding, spicy nose of blueberry, blackcurrant and wood smoke. The palate shows succulent black fruit on entry, with ripe, fine-grained tannins building a precise, focused structure as notes of graphite, cocoa, and vanilla build the complexity. Their is seemless balance to this intense, yet ethereal offering from Figeac that explodes on the finish with juicy blackcurrants and smoky oak. The finish is minutes long, and hints at another great Figeac - a Chateau that has been on a real role of quality in the last few years.
The nose is sweet and rich the fruit on the palate concentrated with depth of flavour. Black fruits tend to dominate the mid palate supple and fleshy the tannins are fine and discreet but there is underlying freshness excellent balance and length of fruit. 2025-41
The percentage of Cabernet Sauvignon is much lower than it was in 2015 (43% then), but is still among the highest in St Emilion. It’s a superb and beautifully judged Figeac from the new team, confirming its move back towards the appellation’s top tier. Grassy, elegant and textured, with effortless concentration. 2024-36
The 2016 Figeac is a blend of 36% Merlot, 26% Cabernet Franc and 38% Cabernet Sauvignon, picked from 23 September until 20 October at 49 hectoliters per hectare with 13.9% alcohol. The acidity is 3.67 pH, and it matured in 100% new oak (focused on five cooperages). This is a property that opened a new chapter in 2013, when Michel Rolland's services as a master blender have been called upon and engendered far greater harmony between the three grape varieties, now all singing from the same hymn sheet. It has a crisp blackberry nose, a little closed at first, opening nicely in the glass and offering raspberry coulis, pencil box and subtle mint aromas—classic Figeac in many ways. The palate is extraordinarily well balanced with a fine lattice of tannin sculpted to perfection. There is a slight edginess to this Figeac that I adore, the Cabernets very expressive, more so than the 2015, with graphite infusing every pore of the black fruit. This Figeac has an outstanding structure and a saline finish that beckons you back for another sip. The 2015 Figeac was stunning and the 2016 no less. Tasted on four separate occasions, and in the end, only one (banded) score became inevitable. Drink 2026 - 2060.
Splendid texture and finesse to this young Figeac with a pure silk texture. Full-bodied and ultra-fine. Lovely combination of fruit and freshness. The polish is gorgeous to this. Precision redefined. Pretty follow-up to the 2015.
The 2016 Figeac is comprised of 38% Cabernet Sauvignon, 36% Merlot and 26% Cabernet Franc. Deep garnet-purple colored, the nose is a little broody and reticent at this very youthful stage, slowly unfolding to reveal profound plum preserves, crème de cassis, black raspberries and star anise with hints of moss-covered bark, truffles and tilled loam plus a waft of red currants and raspberry leaves sparks. Medium to full-bodied, the palate is practically quivering with energy, offering glimpses at tightly wound black fruit and mineral/ferrous layers, framed by very firm, ripe tannins and wonderful tension, finishing long with the spices coming through. This will need a good 7-8 years to come round and then should cellar for 40+ years. Very serious, beautifully poised and sophisticated personality this vintage. Drink 2025-2065
The 2016 Figeac is comprised of 38% Cabernet Sauvignon, 36% Merlot and 26% Cabernet Franc. Deep garnet-purple colored, the nose is a little broody and reticent at this very youthful stage, slowly unfolding to reveal profound plum preserves, crème de cassis, black raspberries and star anise with hints of moss-covered bark, truffles and tilled loam plus a waft of red currants and raspberry leaves sparks. Medium to full-bodied, the palate is practically quivering with energy, offering glimpses at tightly wound black fruit and mineral/ferrous layers, framed by very firm, ripe tannins and wonderful tension, finishing long with the spices coming through. This will need a good 7-8 years to come round and then should cellar for 40+ years. Very serious, beautifully poised and sophisticated personality this vintage. Drink 2025 - 2065.
2016 keeps Figeac on the trajectory set out in recent vintages, and is proof once again that power does not have to mean sacrificing precision and juiciness if it is done right. This is a great wine, with purity and focus from the balanced black fruit delivery. You don't feel anything drop through the palate - each element is held in suspension and it finishes strong with a mouthwatering flourish. 38% Cabernet Sauvignon, 36% Merlot and 26% Cabernet Franc aged in 100% new oak. 3.67pH.
Drinking Window 2027 - 2050
