Château-Figeac 2020

As always, it stands out aromatically with its fruity notes of blueberry, well framed by first-class oak; a lively, juicy attack, an exceptionally dense, crisp development supported by an impressive tannic backbone, immense depth and length thanks to perfectly tuned alcohol; a great wine, in a class of its own and a particular hit this year.

A ripe, herbal-edged nose full of Cabernet Franc perfumed florality; violets, plums, black cherries and figs. Compelling weight on the palate, this has density and drive from the first sip with tannins that are really well integrated but have more of a juicy, high-acid edge than overtly plush, with a soft chalkiness and real mineral vein – the graphite, wet stone edges giving clear terroir markers. Lots of tension here, direct and focused; you can feel the sculpting but there’s lots of energy too – such liveliness underpinning the serious core and wide, firm structure. Poised, layered and complex, a lot going on with cinnamon, clove and cedar on the finish. A total knock-out where each sip gives a slightly different facet building to an impressive whole. Such is Figeac’s power of seduction, this makes you want to sit with it for a while marvelling at the complexity with a smile on your face. A Figeac that you're going to have to wait for, and just have lots of the excellent Petit Figeac in the meantime!

A mesmerizing nose here with flowers such as violets and red roses, then shows cherries and currants with some mineral and black truffles. Full-bodied yet so refined and harmonized, with ultra-fine tannins that run the length of the wine. Flavors of perfectly ripened fruit (al dente) with a hazelnut character that comes from the seeds. Incredibly transparent young red. Breathtaking. 37% merlot, 32% cabernet franc and 31% cabernet sauvignon. Drink after 2028 and onwards. Magnificent.

The 2020 Figeac is incredibly polished and refined. Bright saline underpinnings and lively acids shape the 2020 beautifully, lending notable energy throughout. This is the last vintage made in the transitional cellar before the new winery became operational with the 2021 vintage. My only question mark is a slightly gritty quality in the tannins that lurks beneath. There's terrific purity and drive, though. Figeac is a wine of saline tension and energy more than size. The 2020 will need a number of years in bottle to be at its best.

The purity, elegance, refinement, and layers of perfectly ripe, sweet, sensuous fruits are almost off the charts here! Aromatically, the floral bouquet with accents of espresso, black plums, cherries, black raspberries, spice, licorice, and wet earth can keep any taster busy for ages. But the magic really hits you when the wine begins caressing your palate with its opulent, luscious, silky, velvet-drenched layers of fruit, and the freshness that steals the show. The seamless, 60-second-plus finish is riveting, inspiring you to go back for another sniff, swirl, and sip for the sheer pleasure of it. I do not often drink when tasting. But we finished every drop of this bottle. This is a serious candidate for triple-digit perfection after a decade of aging. Drink from 2027–2065.

Deep ruby colour with an opaque core, purple reflections. On the nose, subtle hints of spicy oak, tobacco, cedar, dark berry fruit, with a touch of liquorice and cassis. The palate is complex, showing juicy, ripe cherries and well-integrated tannins, nougat and pepper. Very long, saline finish, great ageing potential. Tasted by Peter Moser, 07 June 2020

Ripe yet fresh fruit, gentle extraction, great tannin richness, almost a hint of smokiness, stony with graphite, good nuance between red and dark fruit from the three varieties. Very dense and concentrated, with immense but ripe tannins adding plenty of freshness, delicate fruit and well-judged oak, followed by an impressively long and powerful finish.

Kunz barrel sample 2021: concentrated, deep, closed bouquet with blackberries, cherries, cassis, fine noble wood, tobacco and herbs. Tightly woven, powerful, fresh palate with complex, dense aromas, fine tannins, an elegant, finely muscular structure, robust fruit and a long, aromatic finish.

Concentrated, deep, closed bouquet of blackberries, cherries, cassis, fine precious woods, tobacco, herbs. Densely knit, powerful, fresh palate with complex, dense aromatics, fine tannins, an elegant, finely muscular structure, generous fruit, and a long, aromatic finish. 19/20 2028 - 2050

The first vintage since they were crowned Premier Grand Cru Classé A (although not on the label until 2022), and it's a confident showing straight out of the gate. Barely puts a foot wrong as the concentrated nature of this wine En Primeur begins to melt into a creamier expression of raspberry, blackberry and cassis fruits, studded with turmeric, cardamom, white pepper, peony, tobacco leaf, pomegranate, liquorice and smoked earth. 75% of the production in the 1st wine, harvest a long and leisurely five weeks from September 4 to October 1. 37hl/ha. An upscore.

A blend of 37% Merlot, 32% Cabernet Franc, and 31% Cabernet Sauvignon, the 2020 Figeac has a deep garnet-purple color. It is completely shut-down and silent to begin, requiring a vigorous shake to release nuances of boysenberries, Morello cherries, fresh, crunchy plums, and sassafras, followed by an emerging waft of plum preserves, licorice, chargrill, and violets. The medium-bodied palate is so, so tightly knit, delivering a millefeuille of black and red berries, minerals, earth, and floral notes, with electric tension and very fine-grained, exquisitely ripe tannins, finishing long, long, long. Atomic!

97-98

A striking nose, with pure, extraordinary aromas that immediately capture your attention. Yet it shows all the classic hallmarks (blackcurrant, mint, tobacco) we expect from Château Figeac, with its Cabernet-led profile. An exotic touch follows, then a soothing floral freshness. Harmony on the palate, even a sense of melody. Pure, precise fruit, underlined by serious minerality, with a caressing texture on the finish that fully satisfies.

What strikes you first is Figeac’s freshness. Of course, you might say, there’s Cabernet Sauvignon… true, but that doesn’t explain everything! The bouquet reveals intense fruity notes with elderberry aromas. Creamy on the attack, the wine shows sustained aromatic character and elegant tannic power. The finish naturally also underscores the sense of freshness with its juicy, saline, chalky and very long profile! A Figeac of rare finesse, slender and powerful. When subtlety, depth and vigor conspire, greatness is inevitably at hand!

Dark, intense, purple color. Very aromatic nose—refined, fruity, subtle, perfumed, and delicate. The palate is all about tactile grace, with striking elegance in the feel and a noble texture that left me wishing for a touch more power between mid-palate and finish, a little less restraint. Beautiful, spit-proof persistence. Blend: 37% Merlot, 32% Cabernet Franc, 31% Cabernet Sauvignon. Alcohol: 13.8% - pH: 3.7. Yield: 40 hl/ha. Production: 75% first wine.

A broad-shouldered wine that captures the vintage's heat well in a core of cassis and blackberry fruit flavors, dotted with lively savory, tobacco leaf and warm earth accents. Reveals a tarry, grippy edge as well as polish as this pulls deeply from its terroir, leaving an echo of warm paving stone at the very end. Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon. Best from 2030 through 2040. 12,480 cases made.

Densely interwoven, delicate bouquet: fresh thyme, wild raspberry, sour cherry juice, and seductive violet perfume. On the second approach, freshly ground black pepper, heather, refined cassis spice, and licorice. On a regal palate with sublime texture, magical breed, ultra-fine tannins, tremendous precision and depth, and a perfectly sculpted body. In the concentrated finish, St. Émilion sets off a true fireworks display: ripe Alpine blueberry, heart-cherry jam, and cascading astringency. Our climber of the past decade is once again among the wines of the vintage. Anyone who can still find a few bottles can count themselves lucky, because the price will rise—rise sharply!

97–99. Barrel Sample. Fantastic black currant aromas from the Cabernet Sauvignon feed into perfumed Cabernet Franc. The result is a wine that is structured with powerful tannins under the joyous floral fruits. This is a wine with considerable potential while at the same time showing a fresh finish.