{"product_id":"chateau-figeac-2020","title":"Château Figeac 2020","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWilliam Kelly, Robert Parker, April 2023 - \u003cspan style=\"color: rgb(255, 42, 0);\"\u003e100P:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe 2020 Figeac is the finest wine that has been bottled to date at this estate since its renaissance began a decade ago. Wafting from the glass with aromas of blackberries and raspberries mingled with cigar wrapper, pencil shavings, licorice and black truffles, it's medium to full-bodied, deep and concentrated, with a suave, harmonious profile, vibrant acids, and beautifully refined structuring tannins. This sapid, complex wine represents the essence of this great terroir. Two years after extensive soil studies of the estate were carried out, and the first growing season to see cover crops used in the vineyards year-round, the 2020 benefited from more coherently demarcated parcels and more precise élevage, which taken together help to account for its edge over the excellent 2019.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"sc-jMZVPV jBWMMx\"\u003e\u003cem\u003eDirector 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, with year-round cover crops and cultivation by horse to minimize soil compaction. And a brand new winery triples the team's working space, with small tanks so each parcel can be vinified separately. Yet the objective is to perfect 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 and complex terroir hasn't changed.\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eNeil Martin, Vinous, January 2024 - 97P:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe 2020 Figeac has a very refined nose with a sense of control and brooding intensity as the black and red fruit gradually unfurl. The palate is medium-bodied with a sapid entry, wonderful \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem\u003emineralité\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cspan\u003e and firm grip—a more structured Right Bank. The finish is quite compelling, but this clearly needs time. Closing with enormous length, this is a serious 2020 for the most patient. A stunning Figeac from tip to toe. Tasted blind at the annual Southwold tasting.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eGeneral information:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eChâteau Figeac is a prestigious wine estate located in the heart of Saint-Émilion, a UNESCO World Heritage site in Bordeaux. As of 2022, it holds the highest rank of Premier Grand Cru Classé A in the Saint-Émilion classification.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eHistorical Significance\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe estate's history dates back to the second century during the Gallo-Roman period, when it was named after its owner Figeacus. Originally spanning 200 hectares, the estate has evolved significantly over centuries, with portions being sold to create other renowned estates, including parts of what is now Château Cheval Blanc.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eEstate Characteristics\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe property currently encompasses:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e- 54 hectares in total, with 41 hectares under vine\u003cbr\u003e- A unique terroir consisting of three Günzian gravel outcrops with blue clay subsoil\u003cbr\u003e- An average vine age of 35 years, with the oldest dating back to 1921\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDistinctive Features\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe estate's wine stands out for its unique composition of grape varieties:\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e- 35% Cabernet Sauvignon\u003cbr\u003e- 35% Cabernet Franc\u003cbr\u003e- 30% Merlot\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis unusual blend for Saint-Émilion, dominated by Cabernet varieties rather than Merlot, gives Figeac wines a character more reminiscent of Médoc and Graves, despite being on Bordeaux's right bank.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eModern Era\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe Manoncourt family has owned the estate since 1892, marking nearly 130 years of continuous family ownership. A significant modernization program was completed in 2018, including the implementation of plot-by-plot vinification and gravity-flow systems. The estate maintains a strong commitment to sustainability and biodiversity, leaving nearly a quarter of its land unplanted to preserve the natural environment.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eClassification:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn September 2022, Château Figeac was promoted to Premier Grand Cru Classé A, the highest rank in the Saint-Émilion classification. This makes it one of only two châteaux holding this prestigious status, alongside Château Pavie.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eClassification Context\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe Saint-Émilion classification, which is renewed every ten years, now distinguishes 85 properties in total:\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e- 2 Premiers Grands Crus Classés A (Figeac and Pavie)\u003cbr\u003e- 12 Premiers Grands Crus Classés\u003cbr\u003e- 71 Grands Crus Classés\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSignificance\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis promotion was particularly notable as it came at a time when several prestigious estates, including Château Angélus, Ausone, and Cheval Blanc, had withdrawn from the classification system. The elevation to Premier Grand Cru Classé A status has had a significant impact on Figeac's market value, with wine prices rising 47.1% in the three years leading up to the classification.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Château Figeac","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":50501428183306,"sku":"CEW371","price":2875.0,"currency_code":"DKK","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0706\/9273\/3194\/files\/figeac_be8b79fa-0b0d-4fd2-8f4a-90523688723f.png?v=1735206696","url":"https:\/\/carlwandel.shop\/products\/chateau-figeac-2020","provider":"Carl Wandel \u0026 Søn","version":"1.0","type":"link"}