Sinds 2012 zijn de wijnen van het vermaarde Figeac rijper en meer gepolijst dan voorheen. 2014 schakelt nog een versnelling hoger: zelden was de wijn zo goed. Donker robijnrood straalt in het glas. De neus is discreet op dit stadium, ook al schemeren zwarte bessen en kersjes reeds door. De rijkelijke attaque is precies, met tonaliteiten van zwarte chocolade, blauw fruit, zoethout en kaneel. Hierop volgt een imposante structuur van rijpe en ultrafijne tannine. Het geheel is gelaagd en complex. Deze excellente Figeac 2014 treft doel en hoort in onze selectie. 40% Merlot, 28% Cabernet Franc en 32% Cabernet Sauvignon. Elevage van 18 maand op 100% nieuwe eik. 13% vol. 30% van de productie wordt verwezen naar de tweede wijn. Figeac 2014 wordt universeel geplebiciteerd. De prijs lijkt ons correct: voor 1 fles Cheval Blanc, vinden we al 5 à 6 flessen Figeac…
IN DE PERS
95 Neal Martin – vinous.com (Maart 2018)
The 2014 Figeac has a classic Saint-Émilion bouquet with pure raspberry and crushed strawberry scents, wet stone and smoke, wonderfully defined and vibrant. The palate is medium-bodied with fine grain tannin, poised and focused, good backbone with a linear and precise finish that suggests it will require several years in bottle. It is predestined to be overshadowed by the subsequent 2015 and 2016, but you would be foolish to ignore this gem. Tasted blind at the annual Southwold tasting. Drink 2024-2055.
94 Neal Martin – robertparker.com (Maart 2017)
The 2014 Figeac builds on its promise from barrel and delivers a very fulfilling bouquet with red plum, crushed strawberry, cedar and light graphite aromas that I suspect will close down for a period after bottling. (The bottle tasted at the château displayed a subtle incense aroma.) The palate is very well defined with a crisp line of acidity, sorbet fresh in the mouth and fanning out towards its structured, tensile finish. It is a great Figeac, a superb forerunner to the brilliant 2015 and it should not be underestimated. Chapeau winemaker Frédéric Faye and his team. Tasted twice (both in London and at the property) with consistent notes. Drink: 2022 – 2045.
93-95 Neal Martin – robertparker.com (April 2015)
The Château Figeac 2014 is a blend of 32% Cabernet Sauvignon, 28% Cabernet Franc and 40% Merlot picked from 29 September and 12 October. It is matured in 100% new oak from six different coopers, the alcohol level 13% with a pH 3.7. I tasted the wine twice at the property and once more at a négoçiant. The first time, it did not quite possess the precision on the finish that I was looking for, whilst the oak felt too prominent and blurred away that distinctive Figeac character. The 2nd and 3rd samples tasted one week later showed much better. Superb delineation on the nose, the oak here nicely integrated and allowing the Figeac character to be expressed, lifted red cherries and fresh strawberry dallying with cold stone and undergrowth scents, a touch of graphite courtesy of the Cabernets. The palate is medium-bodied with typical Figeac traits of cedar and undergrowth coming through with aeration, joined by blackberry and boysenberry. The finish here displayed more precision. Yes, just a little reserved and austere but the Cabernet is on song and imparting a structured finish. There are scurrilous rumours that the Figeac style is being forsaken. On the contrary, under winemaker Frédéric Faye and the Manoncourt family, it is retained and enhanced. Drink: 2019 – 2035.
96 Antonio Galloni - vinous.com (Februari 2017)
The 2014 Figeac is shaping up to be a real jewel of a wine. Powerful and structured, with plenty of tannic spine, the 2014 won't start hitting its stride for at least a few years. Even today, though, it is impressive for its energy and overall intensity. Plum, smoke, spice, graphite and leather build into the huge, expressive finish. Figeac is one of the stars of the vintage. There is real density and gravitas here, not to mention considerable personality.
17,5/20 Jancis Robinson – jancisrobinson.com
96 James Suckling – jamessuckling.com (Februari 2017)
94-95 James Suckling – jamessuckling.com (April 2015)
A beautiful Figeac with stones, oyster shells, chalk and fruits. Full-bodied and compacted with ultra-fine tannins. This is compressed and compacted with a wonderful style. The 32% cabernet sauvignon should give a unique structure here. More structured than the 2012.
17/20 Jean Marc Quarin (April 2015)
94 James Molesworth - winespectator.com (Februari 2017)
93-96 James Molesworth – winespectator.com (April 2015)
92 of 17,75/20 Decanter Magazine – decanter.com (April 2015)
18/20 René Gabriel – Weinwisser (April 2015) FigeacFigeac is “hot” na de wondermooie millésimes 2015, 2016 en 2018 en tijdens faraonische bouwwerken. Geen wonder: elke ware wijnliefhebber houdt ontzettend veel van Figeac.
Deze 1er Grand Cru Classé bezit de meest uitstrekte wijngaard van Saint Emilion. Om precies te zijn: 38,8245 ha, waarvan 35,8526 in productie. De aanplanting (37 jaar gemiddeld in 2018) is uitzonderlijk met zomaar eventjes 37% Cabernet Sauvignon, 28% Cabernet Franc en slechts 30% Merlot, op Graves peyresol en planosol aangeplant op 6.060 wijnstokken per hectare. Zo'n proportie Cabernet Sauvignon is uniek voor Saint Emilion. De drijfveer hiervoor is geologisch. Er wordt gewerkt volgens de principes van lutte raisonnée. Sorteertafels, éraflage en optische lasers worden ingezet. De élevage gebeurt in 100% nieuwe eik van zeven tonneliers.
De familie Manoncourt is eigenaar sinds 1892. Dames staan aan het hoofd: Madame Thierry Manoncourt en Madame Hortense Idoine Manoncourt. Wijnmaker Frédéric Faye (sinds 2002) en consulenten Michel Rolland en Thomas Duclos waarborgen de unieke Figeac stijl. Verwacht grootse wijnen in de komende jaren op Figeac. De schone slaapster kreeg de kus…
Er is ook een tweede wijn genaamd Petit Figeac.
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