2017 Figeac

Returning to its best after some years in the wilderness, Figeac is an unusual St Emilion due to its equal balance of Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and Merlot. Really cabernet dominated nose with bright blackcurrant and cassis backed by some ripe plum notes. The palate is energetic and fresh with very fine tannins. It's juicy and linear with real precision and focus - seriously classy. So much work has gone into this and it really shows. - April 2017

Production was down by half this year—only producing 55,000 bottles. Made from 43% Cabernet Sauvignon, 47% Merlot and 10% Cabernet Franc, the deep garnet-purple colored 2017 Figeac gives up expressive notes of black cherries, plum preserves, black raspberries and kirsch, giving way to hints of dried leaves, cinnamon toast and warm cassis plus a waft of lavender. Medium-bodied, the palate has wonderful vibrancy with a refreshing line cutting through the crunchy black fruits and a firm, finely grained frame, finishing long and spicy. LPB

The 2017 Figeac was picked from 5 September until 3 October according to winemaker Frédéric Faye. It has a dense blackcurrant and raspberry scented bouquet with touches of mint and potpourri developing with aeration. This has very fine definition. The palate is medium-bodied with very fine tannins, superb density and very fresh. A vibrant, minty finish lingers in the mouth. It is very backward of course, but there is such convincing energy locked in this wine. Great potential. www.vinous.com

Bright and fresh, offering lovely cassis and black cherry notes sitting atop a sleek iron spine. Floral and savory details run throughout. Shows a refined structure. Sneakily long, with persistent fruit. - James Molesworth, winespectator.com, April 2018

Blackberries and violets with lots of perfume. Some roses, too. Full body. Very structured for this vintage with tight, lightly chewy tannins and a long, long finish. Creamy texture. Excellent density in the center palate.

Deep cherry red with lots of purple. Lifted and fragrant. Finely and intensely scented. This is very fine: pure and precise, some red fruit on the palate. Succulent, juicy, scented on the palate too. Silky, charming, mouth-watering. So succulent, so precise, unforced. - Julia Harding, jancisrobinson.com, April 2018

The 2017 Figeac is magnificent. Beautifully layered and exquisite in the glass, the 2017 possesses remarkable balance and harmony from the very first taste. An utterly beguiling, captivating wine, the 2017 simply has it all. Bright, red-toned fruit, mint, spice, lavender and rose petal overtones flesh out in the glass, but above all else, Figeac is a wine of total harmony. The Grand Vin includes 10% second generation fruit. Even so, production is down around 50%. - vinous.com, May 2018

Earthy fruits, tobacco leaves, black plums, cigar box, and dark red currants are found in the nose and on the palate. The wine is bright, crisp, and savory, with a classic, firm edge, and a savory, chalky finish. Give this some time in the cellar to soften and flesh out. Drink from 2029-2055. Tasted July 2022

The grand vin is the 2017 Chateau Figeac, which was made only from first-generation grapes and is 47% Cabernet Sauvignon, 43% Merlot, and only 10% Cabernet Franc that was brought up in new French oak. It offers a beautiful bouquet of creme de cassis, tobacco, violets, and tobacco, with a touch of forest floor and earth. Made in a pure, elegant, medium-bodied style, it's beautifully textured, seamless and elegant, with silky tannins and a solid spine of acidity. It's going to be drinkable in 4-5 years and cruise for 15-20 years.

The 2017 possesses a more earthy character than 2018 and 2019, but it is also endowed with finely focused aromas of black fruit, spice, and a hint of tobacco mingling with notes of menthol, graphite, and cedar. It impresses even more on the palate for its crystalline edge and purity and a taut but fine-boned structure. The overall impression is a devilishly seductive wine that even has a certain delicacy belying its real cellaring potential for up to twenty or even thirty years. Compelling proof that the underrated 2017 vintage produced some great Bordeaux wines. Drinking Window: 2025 - 2050
Tasted by: Yohan Castaing (at Château Figeac, 20 Sep 2021)
Part of Tasting Château Figeac: 17 vintages from 1947 to 2019