Château La Tour Figeac 2021

Quite subdued, with some bitter orange and dark chocolate elements, herbal notes and dark berry fruit. You feel the underlying power more than any overt fruit or juiciness, but it seems like it will come together. A little compact right now, but the tannins are polished and the fruit shows lovely purity. It's not super exciting, but it feels well made with good structure and a long finish. There's no doubt about the ripeness and concentration. First year of organic certification.

60% Merlot, 40% Cabernet Franc. Cask sample. Perfumed nose and palate with a hint of blueberry fruit. Fleshy yet refined. Light tannic frame but finely honed tannins. An appealing wine for earlier consumption. (JL)

Flowers, cocoa, red fruits, herbs, and a light dash of spice that lingers in the background on the nose. Medium-bodied, soft, and fresh, with sweetness and energy to the fruit on the palate that carries all the way through to the finish. Drink from 2024–2036.

Dark ruby with subtle purple hues on the rim. Orange zest, a touch of noble wood and nougat, ripe plums. Medium-bodied, ripe cherries, fine tannins, subtle fruit sweetness on the finish; a versatile, fresh food companion.

The 2021 Château La Tour Figeac comes from a great terroir near the Saint-Emilion/Pomerol border and is based on a 60/40 split of Merlot and Cabernet Franc. It's always a more ruby/plum-hued effort and the 2021 is no exception, largely due to the vineyard’s more sandy, gravelly soils. Ripe red fruits, loamy earth, spice, chocolate, and dried rose are just some of the nuances in this more finesse-driven, medium-bodied Saint-Emilion. It's balanced, has fine tannins, a supple, elegant mouthfeel, and outstanding length, all making for a rock-solid, impressive 2021 that will offer pleasure for 7-8 years, if not over a decade.

Kunz barrel sample 2022: (60% Merlot, 40% Cabernet Franc, 10 hl/ha, 13% vol. alcohol, production 18,000 bottles) Silky, fresh, sweet bouquet, raspberry jelly, strawberries, delicate praline notes, fine herbs, nougat. Elegant, refined, fruity palate with creamy, sweet fruit, fine tannins, dense structure, varied, sweet aromatics, long, aromatic finish.

(60% Merlot, 40% Cabernet Franc, 10 hl/ha, 13% vol. alcohol, production 18,000 bottles) Velvety, fresh, sweet bouquet, raspberry jelly, strawberries, fine pralines, fine herbs, nougat. Elegant, delicate, fruity palate with creamy, sweet fruit, fine tannins, dense structure, diverse sweet aromatics, long, aromatic finish. 18/20 2028 - 2048

Bright ruby red in colour, grilled cedar and vanilla bean on the nose. Ageing has smoothed things out a little, but it remains on the slim side of ripe, with fresh acidity, mandarin and even a touch of ginger, a little short on the finish. A tough year for La Tour Figeac here, as they were impacted by frost, bringing yields down to below 15 hl/ha. 40% new oak.

A blend of 60% Merlot and 40% Cabernet Franc, La Tour Figeac 2021 has a deep garnet-purple color. After a swirl or two, notes of redcurrants and Morello cherries emerge, followed by hints of wild thyme, wet slate, and forest floor. Medium-bodied, the palate is lively, with savory flavors and a soft texture, finishing with nice poise.

Highly refined, the nose reveals notes of blue fruits, noble in character, and beautiful leafy aromas. A sumptuous grace on the palate—supremely elegant—carried by a creamy texture and perfectly ripe fruit (blueberry, raspberry). The élevage, finely controlled, delivers a delectable finish of wonderful length.

The bouquet of La Tour Figeac reveals itself gently. I find it open, serene, subtly discreet, and complex, with notes of violets and strawberries. The palate follows the same thread; the wine is tasty, slender, harmonious, and supported by well-integrated tannins. I catch myself wishing for a bit more aromatic intensity mid-palate and on the finish, but that’s just a detail within the wine’s elegant context.

A dark colour, of medium yet bright intensity. A slightly discreet nose, with fresh, ripe fruit, delicately supported by oak. Precise on the attack, tasty on the mid-palate, with flavour and a gentle body, the wine stretches out into a pleasant finish with a delicate sappy character.

Expressive, red-fruited, with notes of plums and rosehip; on the palate, approachable, delicate fruit, good harmony, solid length. Enjoyable right away.

A ripe wine that is beautifully balanced. Rich tannins and concentration always within elegant limits. Black-currant flavors are forward. Drink this rich wine from 2028. Organic.

The 2021 La Tour Figeac has turned out nicely, exhibiting minty aromas of cherries, berries and peonies, followed by a medium-bodied, pure and polished palate that will show well young.