Petit-Figeac 2013 - Second Vin du Château Figeac

Bettane & Desseauve

About the estate:

With 35% Cabernet Franc and 35% Cabernet Sauvignon, Figeac, located on the gravelly plateau bordering Pomerol, is often said to be the most Médoc-like of the Saint-Émilion wines. The originality of the vintage lies in its central terroir, which is composed of Günzian gravel, the same as that found in the grands crus classés of the Left Bank. As a result, this premier cru classé ages perfectly over time. Thierry Manoncourt, the soul of the estate for over sixty years, gave it a welcome boost. Since 2013, Marie-France Manoncourt, Thierry's widow, has formed a new board of directors with her daughters. With the competent director Frédéric Faye, the estate has reached the top of the Right Bank.

Guide Hachette des vins

About wine:

The second wine of Figeac, which is more traditional, appears less influenced by Cabernet Sauvignon (40% Merlot) and oak. It offers a fairly consistent body for the vintage and requires its tannins to be rounded off.

Robert Parker - Wine Advocate

About the estate:

RVF - La Revue du Vin de France / Guide des Meilleurs Vins de France

About the estate:

With an atypical blend of Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Merlot in equal proportions, Figeac's unique and personal style represents the quintessence of the elegance and refinement of the wines from the western plateau that Saint-Émilion shares with Pomerol. Figeac has a character all its own, often more austere and compact than its neighbors when young. These are wines of exceptional pedigree, easy to drink and long-lasting. Figeac shines in hot vintages (as proven by 2005) and only reveals its full potential after ten to fifteen years of aging. The construction of the new winery, completed for the 2020 harvest, has made it possible to go into even greater detail about the plots, including the intra-plot, and Frédéric Faye is delighted with the extreme functionality of the facilities. Semi-underground and close to the château, with which it shares the elegance of a grand cru, this new facility blends majestically but unostentatiously into the site, refreshing the location. The château thus confirms the extent of its "modern" classicism, its unpretentious integrity, and its rank: that of the rare first growths. Its history rooted in the legend of Saint-Emilion; the preserved trees in the park creating a perfect ecosystem; the power of its terroir with its unique relief and extremely high-quality clay soils; and the relevance of the new winery have earned the Manoncourt family's property a fourth star.

Wine Enthusiast

About wine:

This wine has a fruity and juicy character that comes from its blend dominated by Cabernets. Lightly touched by wood, like a true Bordeaux second wine, it already shows an intensely fruity aroma. With fresh acidity and a lively style, this wine is ready to drink.

James Suckling