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2009 Château Figeac, 375ml

Not Currently In Auction

Latest Sale Price

July 17, 2022 - $130

Estimate

RATINGS

96Wine Spectator

...black currant, roasted cedar and maduro tobacco flavors, which are supported by a dense, loam-tinged structure. Terrific roasted espresso, ganache and fig paste notes wait in reserve. Very muscular, but with the cut for balance.

96James Suckling

So much forest fruit, fresh mushrooms and sweet tobacco. Complex. Full body and very polished, velvety tannins. A long and flavorful finish. Still tight. A big and rich wine.

93Stephen Tanzer

Aromas of redcurrant and plum are complicated by gravel, tobacco, wild herbs and cedar. Lush, suave and seamless, with noteworthy energy and a restrained sweetness to the fine-grained flavors of red fruits, tobacco and herbs.

17Jancis Robinson

Neat, fresh Cabernet Franc aromas are in the mix here and some attractively ripe fruit.

PRODUCER

Château Figeac

Château Figeac is a 99-acre estate in the St.-Emilion appellation. It is a Premier Grand Cru Class B in the official classification of St.-Emilion wine. Figeac traces its history to the second century, when a Roman named Figeacus built an estate on the site. By the late 18th century the estate was nearly 500 acres in size, but it was subsequently subdivided several times. By the early 20th century it had passed on to the Manoncourt family, which still owns and operates it. Unlike most other St.-Emilion estates, Château Figeac grows a significant amount of Cabernet Sauvignon, which thrives in the estate’s gravel soil. The vineyards are planted to 35% Cabernet Sauvignon, 35% Cabernet Franc and 30% Merlot. Because of the Cabernet Sauvignon the estate’s wines sometimes are thought to have more in common with the Bordeaux of Medoc and Graves than the other wines of St.-Emilion.

REGION

France, Bordeaux, St.-Émilion

Saint-Émilion is on the east side of the Dordogne River. At 13,400 acres it is one of Bordeaux’s largest appellations, and perhaps its most picturesque. It is also home to what has been called “the garagiste” movement of upstart, tradition-defying winemakers who produce artisanal wines in styles that are unconventional for the appellation. The village of Saint-Émilion dates from the middle ages and it sits on low hills, surrounded by ancient walls. Like its neighbor Pomerol, Saint-Émilion was not included in the famous Bordeaux classification system of 1855. But a century later a ranking system was put in place, and unlike the classification system for the Medoc, the Saint-Émilion system is reviewed every ten years, meaning that estates can be upgraded or downgraded. There are three rankings: Grand Cru Classé, Premier Grand Cru Classé B and Premier Grand Cru Classé A, with the final ranking being the best. Such legendary Saint-Émilion estates as Châteaux Ausone and Cheval-Blanc are Premier Grand Cru Classé A, along with Châteaux Pavie and Angélus, both added to the classification in 2012. Wines in this appellation are primarily Merlot, mixed with Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon.