Château Figeac Saint-Emilion 2022 - 1er Grand Cru Classé A

Bettane & Desseauve

About the estate:

With 35% Cabernet Franc and 35% Cabernet Sauvignon, Figeac—located on the gravelly plateau bordering Pomerol—is often described as the most Médoc-like of the Saint-Émilions. The wine’s uniqueness stems from its central terroir, composed of Günzian gravel, the same type found in the Grand Crus Classés of the Left Bank. As a result, this Premier Cru Classé ages beautifully over time. Thierry Manoncourt, the soul of the estate for over sixty years, gave it a much-needed boost. Since 2013, Marie-France Manoncourt, Thierry’s widow, has formed a new management team with her daughters. Under the capable leadership of director Frédéric Faye, the estate has reached the pinnacle of the Right Bank.

Decanter

About the wine:

This wine made a big impression at the en primeur tastings and has lived up to all its promise since bottling. It has a dazzling liveliness and a beautifully expressive nose—black fruit, licorice, and floral notes. The energy on the palate is incredible—it’s full of life thanks to its high acidity and juicy red berries, yet it also offers a touch of creaminess and supple, fleshy tannins that lend it weight and structure. It exudes power and concentration, almost concealed beneath a refreshing crispness and such a charming texture. Flawless winemaking that brings out the best of the vintage in terms of ripeness, yet results in a very sophisticated and utterly delicious expression. I love this wine. A perfect wine. 2028–2050

Robert Parker - Wine Advocate

About the wine:

Figeac 2022 is one of the standout wines of the vintage. It unfolds in the glass with a deep, complex bouquet of black berries and blackcurrant mingled with notes of violet, pencil lead, mint, and cigar wrapper. It is medium- to full-bodied, dense, and concentrated, with striking intensity and fruit sweetness combined with unfailing precision and energy, and concludes with a long, penetrating finish. The abundant yet delicately filigree-like tannins lend a sense of classicism and proportion to a wine that might otherwise be flamboyant. As I wrote while it was still in barrel, this is the quintessence of Figeac, bearing witness to the late Thierry Manoncourt’s vision of planting such a large proportion of Cabernet, and on drought-resistant rootstocks. The complexity inherent in Figeac’s terroirs is such that the harvest took place plot by plot between September 1 and 25. Could the result be a contemporary version of the estate’s magical 1949 vintage? 2030–2065

About the estate:

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

About the estate:

Based on an atypical blend—with equal parts Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Merlot—Figeac’s unique and distinctive style embodies the quintessence of elegance and refinement found in the wines of the western plateau that Saint-Émilion shares with Pomerol. Figeac possesses a character all its own, often more austere and compact than that of its neighbors in its youth. Wines of exceptional character, easy to drink and long-lasting. Figeac shines in warm vintages (as the 2005 proves) and only fully reveals itself after ten to fifteen years of aging. The construction of the new cellar, completed in time for the 2020 harvest, has allowed for even greater attention to detail regarding the plots—even down to the intra-plot level—and delights Frédéric Faye with the extreme functionality of the facilities. Semi-underground and situated near the château with which it shares the elegance of a grand cru, this new facility—which fits majestically yet unostentatiously into the site—breathes new life into the location. The château thus reaffirms the scope of its “modern” classicism, its unpretentious integrity, and its standing: that of the rare first-rate estates. Its history rooted in the legend of Saint-Emilion; the preserved trees of the park creating a perfect ecosystem; the power of its terroir with its unique topography and exceptionally high-quality clay soils; and the excellence of the new winery have earned the Manoncourt family estate a fourth star.

James Suckling

Jeb Dunnuck

About the wine:

A true legend, the 2022 Château Figeac is made from 35% Merlot, 34% Cabernet Franc, and 31% Cabernet Sauvignon, which underwent malolactic fermentation in oak barrels and spent 18 months in new oak barrels. This beauty, with its deep purple hue, offers incredible notes of blackcurrant, spring flowers, crushed stone, graphite, and subtle tobacco. These notes complement a full-bodied, ultra-pure, refined, and harmonious style on the palate. It is so rare to find a wine capable of offering such richness and intensity without any sense of heaviness, along with an incredible sense of finesse and elegance. It reminds me of a slightly more concentrated version of the 2016. Hide the bottles away for a decade if you can and enjoy them over the next 40 years. 2035–2075

Le Figaro vins

About the wine:

A vibrant bouquet, sparkling with charm and confidence, offering a kaleidoscope of sumptuous aromas: deep black fruits, enchanting flowers (peony, iris), fresh sap, and a mineral touch of schist. The palate lives up to this promise: the flavors, true to the nose, overflow with richness. The brilliance of the fruit and cut-flower notes is skillfully held in check on the finish by an aristocratic framework of exquisitely refined tannins, with a cashmere-like texture. 2032–2062

Yves Beck

About the wine:

What a wealth of detail and complexity in the bouquet of the 2022 Figeac! Its many facets share a common thread of richness and depth. It reveals notes of graphite, tea leaves, and redcurrants, followed by elegant woody nuances that reinforce the depth of the aroma. On the palate, the wine is impressive for both its density and its finesse. It is certainly powerful, yet it never veers into exuberance. It is carried by fleshy, velvety, and compact tannins that underscore its aging potential, while a subtle austerity enhances its freshness and persistence. A creamy, dense, caressing, harmonious, and captivating wine, thanks to its mouth-watering, almost salty notes on the finish. That is the magic of this vintage, of the Figeac terroir, and of the dedicated work of the men and women who create it, year after year. Once again, unlikely potential has been identified, crystallized, and brought to fruition! 2028–2060