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 | 2021 Ch. Figeac - Saint Emilion 1er GCC | € 189,00 (€ 228,69) |
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IN DE PERS 96+ William Kelley - robertparker.com (Februari 2024) A wine that transcends the vintage's challenges, the 2021 Figeac is performing brilliantly in bottle, wafting from the glass with aromas of raspberries and cherries mingled with striking top notes of violet, rose petal, iris and mint. Medium to full-bodied, satiny and suave, it's pure and vibrant, its enveloping core of fruit framed by ultra-refined tannins, concluding with a long, floral finish. Readers in the habit of drinking top grand cru Burgundy are liable to find themselves seduced by this immensely elegant, perfumed Saint-Émilion, a wine I'll definitely be adding to my own cellar. It's the result of gamble that paid off, as Figeac's team chose to wait to pick their Cabernet Sauvignon despite the menace of forecast rain—a menace that, in fact, scarcely transpired. The 2021 saw a somewhat shorter-than-usual élevage of 16 months in barrel without fining. Drink 2027-2050. Director of Château Figeac since 2013, Frédéric Faye emphasizes precision and timing when he characterizes the estate's evolution over the last decade. Harvest now lasts three or four weeks, stopping and starting, so each parcel of this 41-hectare vineyard can be picked at optimal maturity. Farming is similarly adapted parcel by parcel, emphasizing sustainability. And a brand-new winery triples the team's working space, with small tanks so that each parcel can be vinified separately. Yet the objective is to polish Figeac, not to change it. If the estate's wines are now suppler and fuller, their classically Cabernet-rich assemblage hasn't altered. Old-fashioned approaches such as submerged-cap fermentation for fruit growing on gravel soils have been retained. And of course, the estate's distinctive soils haven't changed. Figeac's compelling success in the challenging 2021 vintage demonstrates the fruit of all that work. 94 Neal Martin - vinous.com (Februari 2024) The 2021 Figeac was bottled the previous mid-July after being stored in vat for two months to gain more on the mid-palate. It has a sensual bouquet with pure wild strawberry and raspberry fruit, pencil box and tabacco scents that emanate from the Cabernet component. This seems to be a bit closed on the day. The palate is medium-bodied with a hint of dark chocolate and leather on the entry and a fine spidity throughout, gently fanning out towards its composed, menthol-tinged, refreshing finish. Drink 2027-2057. 95-97 Neal Martin – vinous.com (Mei 2022) The 2021 Figeac was picked from September 21 until October 19 and matured, as usual, in 100% new oak. It has a very pure, elegant bouquet, the Cabernet Sauvignon imparting subtle pencil lead notes, blackberry and briar, almost understated at first but gaining vigor with aeration. The palate is medium-bodied with supple tannins, a fine bead of acidity and just the right amount of sapidity. There is unerring symmetry about this Figeac, which is extremely focused yet unconcerned about showing off. There is lovely piquancy on the finish. Unequivocally one the finest Right Bank wines in 2021. Frédéric Faye continues to guide Figeac to the pinnacle of the appellation. (13.0% alcohol). Drink 2027-2060. I had the privilege of witnessing the first bunches arrive at the new winery reception when I visited this estate last September. But what I remember most clearly is the serenity exuded by Frédéric Faye. After such a turbulent season, with so much at stake with the new facility, I expected him to show at least a little bit of nervousness. Yet, here, he was on a gloriously sunny day, basking in the excitement as fruit from the young Merlot began filling their new vats. “It is a very elegant Figeac,” he told me, still as cool as a cucumber. “It does not try to over-achieve. It was an early season with frost risk for a few nights and then the weather was cloudy and rainy, which slowed down vine growth until the beginning of June. We had a good flowering in a short window that allowed a green harvest since the véraison was very long for the Merlot. Summer was cloudy and not very hot or sunny, so maturation was strung out. We kept applying our 90% organic and biodynamics treatments. When I tried the first bunches [they were not ripe], so I thought maybe I should go back on vacation! After ten days, the youngest vines were ready, due to the dryness. From 21 September to 1 October, we picked the Merlot that underwent some saignée. At the weekend, they predicted heavy rain, and we still had 29 hectares unpicked and yet bunches were not ripe. So, I phoned the Manoncourt family and told them I would take the risk. We just had 2-3mm of rain - it was nothing. Then we had a northerly wind and sun, the canopy still photosynthesising, and we picked over one month. The fruit kept concentrating and the Cabernet Sauvignon ended up saving the vintage. I was determined more than ever to produce a great maiden Figeac in the new cellar, so I filled the small tanks step-by-step, making decisions on each tank what to do. I increased the number of lots per vintage by 40% compared to 2020.” 94 Antonio Galloni - vinous.com (December 2023) The 2021 Figeac is a classy, supremely polished Saint-Emilion. Floral and savory notes meld into a core of dark cherry, leather, tobacco, spice, mocha and lavender. I imagine the 2021 will drink well with minimal cellaring. It's an undeniably attractive wine with no hard edges, but also less textural depth than the best years. Managing Director Frédéric Faye and his team reduced élevage by two months because of the lighter structure of the wine, a decision that paid off nicely. Drink 2029-2051. 93-95 Antonio Galloni – vinous.com (Mei 2022) The 2021 Figeac is a super-classy, elegant Saint-Emilion. Silky tannins and lifted, savory aromatics add to a total impression of finesse. There is more Cabernet Sauvignon than typically in this year’s blend, which naturally brings added aromatic presence. The 2021 is not as explosive as recent vintages have been, but its class is evident. This is a strong showing from Figeac and the team led by Estate Manager Frédéric Faye. Tasted two times. Drink 2031-2051. 94-97 William Kelley – robertparker.com (April 2022) One of the highlights of the vintage on the Right Bank, the 2021 Figeac is a blend of 40% Cabernet Sauvignon, 31% Cabernet Franc and 29% Merlot, and the fruit of a harvest that lasted a full month, from September 21 to October 19, with each parcel picked at optimal maturity. Offering up aromas of blackberries, cassis, rose petals, violets, cigar wrapper and sweet soil tones, it's medium to full-bodied, supple and seamless, its velvety attack segueing into a deep, layered core of beautifully vibrant fruit, concluding with a long, saline finish. The first vintage vinified in Figeac's new winery, it's a resounding success for administrator Frédéric Faye and his team. 94-95 James Suckling – jamessuckling.com (Mei 2022) A red with lots of dark-fruit, graphite and tar aromas and flavors. It’s medium-bodied and very integrated with firm, polished tannins and a long finish. Racy and compact. Silky texture. 97 Jane Anson – janeanson.com (April 2022) Lovely aromatics right off the bat, good spice, white peppers, touches of savoury cassis. This 71% mix of the two Cabernets is the highest ever at Figeac, and you feel it in this savoury, rosebud, leafy character to the palate, brilliantly handled and one of the wines of the vintage. This delivers careful balance, sculpted fruits, with a juicy finish. 100% new oak. Romain Jean-Pierre technical director. 38hl/h yield, harvest September 21 to October 19 (with a three week gap between Merlot and Cabernet). 3.65ph. First vintage with the new cellar. 70% production into Figeac, 8% press wine. Tasted twice, excellent quality. 94-96 Lisa Perrotti-Brown – thewineindependent.com (Mei 2022) The 2021 Figeac is a blend of 40% Cabernet Sauvignon, 31% Cabernet Franc, and 29% Merlot, with the Merlot harvested from 21 September to 1 October. Deep garnet-purple colored, it slowly unfurls in the glass, releasing languid notions of redcurrants, black raspberries, and mulberries, followed by hints of iron ore, violets, star anise, and menthol with a hint of graphite. Medium-bodied, the palate is elegant with ripe, grainy Cabernet-led tannins, featuring great tension and lots of bright red fruit and mineral layers, finishing long and ferrous. pH 3.65. Drink 2027-2050. 17+/20 James Lawther – jancisrobinson.com (Mei 2022) 40% Cabernet Sauvignon, 31% Cabernet Franc, 29% Merlot. 38 hl/ha. 70% of production. First vintage made in the new cellar. Cask sample. Berry fruit with just a hint of oak. Sappy with plenty of freshness and drive. Velvety attack then a firm tannic structure all the way through. Just a hint of grainy tannin on the finish. Long. Typically Figeac in style. 13%. Drink 2028 – 2046. 97-99+ Yohan Castaing - anthocyanes.fr (Mei 2022) 97-98 Terre des Vins (Mei 2022) 97 Bettane & Desseauve (Mei 2022) 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. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||