Château Figeac Saint-Emilion 1er Grand Cru Classé A 2022 i 2-styks trækasse

Robert Parker

The 2022 Figeac is one of the wines of the vintage. Unfurling in the glass with a deep and complex bouquet of dark berries and cassis mingled with hints of violet, pencil lead, mint and cigar wrapper, it's medium to full-bodied, dense and concentrated, with striking intensity and sweetness of fruit married with unerring precision and energy, concluding with a long, penetrating finish. Abundant but exquisitely filigreed tannins lend a sense of classicism and proportion to a wine that might otherwise be flamboyant. As I wrote from barrel, it's the quintessential Figeac, testament to the late Thierry Manoncourt's vision to plant such a large proportion of Cabernet, and on drought-resistant rootstocks. Such is the inherent complexity of Figeac's terroirs that harvest took place sub-block by sub-block between September 1st and 25th. Could the result be a contemporary version of the estate's magical 1949?

Decanter

This wowed during Primeurs and it has maintained its promise now it's been bottled. Gloriously alive with a beautifully expressive nose - dark fruit, liquorice and floral scents. The energy on the palate is incredible - this pulses with life given the high acidity and juicy red berry fruit but...

Alexandre Ma

The 2022 vintage once again cements the legendary legacy of Château Figeac through its hallmark blending artistry. Typically, wineries that upgrade their winemaking facilities need time to adjust, but Château Figeac has achieved a seamless transition. To me, this wine is like a dazzling diamond, refracting the purest fruit aromas into radiant brilliance. Waves of bayberry and jujube flood the palate, leaving behind the rich allure of toffee in the finish. Its velvety tannins are exceptional, delivering a dense and plush texture without a single unnecessary embellishment. High-alcohol vintages often carry a hint of heat, but even with a magnifying glass, you won’t find a trace of it here. The 2022 Figeac combines the concentration of 2005, the luminosity of 2019, and the enigmatic allure of 2016. With time, it may well become the greatest vintage in Château Figeac’s history. Encountering this wine is a rare privilege—embrace it, cherish it, and let it take you on an unforgettable journey of enjoyment.

Jeb Dunnuck

An absolute legend of a wine, the 2022 Château Figeac is based on 35% Merlot, 34% Cabernet Franc, and 31% Cabernet Sauvignon that saw malolactic in barrel and 18 months in new barrels. This deep purple-hued beauty offers incredible cassis, spring flowers, crushed stone, graphite, and subtle tobacco notes to go with a full-bodied, ultra-pure, fine, seamless style on the palate. It's so rare to find a wine that can deliver this level of richness and intensity with no sensation of weight, as well as an incredible sense of finesse and elegance. It reminds me of a slightly more concentrated version of the 2016. Hide bottles for a decade if you can and enjoy over the following 40 years or so.

Falstaff

Deep dark ruby garnet, opaque core, violet reflections, delicate edge brightening. Delicate herbal spice, fresh red heart cherries, delicate cassis, a hint of mandarin zest, mineral touch. Complex, tightly meshed, black cherries, good freshness on the palate too, silky-soft, ripe, supporting tannins that are very well integrated, extract-sweet finish, salty touch, has great length, very seductive style, perhaps the most precise Figeac ever,

Vinum

At present, considerably more restrained than Petit Figeac, yet with remarkable depth: dark cassis fruit, violets, cedarwood and lemon balm — a true poem. On the palate, it is creamy, round and fruit-driven on the attack, with opulent, fully ripe fruit. The wine then tightens, with freshness maintained by vibrant acidity. The tannins are like velvet and silk, only making themselves fully felt at the very end, carrying the fruit through to an exceptionally long finish, where the wine concludes on a saline note. An aristocratic Figeac that undoubtedly ranks among the top ten wines of the vintage.