Château-Figeac 2010

Tasted at the Château Figeac vertical at the property and then in Bordeaux a year later. The 2010 Figeac was a “problem child” in its youth, very variable and difficult to pin down, vexing on occasion. Now with a couple of years in bottle, it is really beginning to show what it can do and it far surpassed my expectations. Certainly, it is more withdrawn on the nose compared to the more generous 2009 Figeac. The aromatics are holding everything back. Then, with continued aeration it reveals a subtle marine influence—seaweed and sea spray scents, estuary mudflats. The palate is medium-bodied with moderate depth, but what really distinguishes this wine are the fineness of the tannin, the symmetry of the structure and freshness on the finish, facets hitherto kept secret. As such, it surpasses the 2009, the weightless but intense finish beckoning you to take another sip. The aromatics need to up their game and match what's evolving on the palate—if they do, this will be a very serious Figeac. Tasted July 2016.

This is very tight, showing a prominent roasted apple wood and bittersweet cocoa frame today, though the core of dense currant paste, blackberry pâte de fruit and plum sauce waits in reserve. Gorgeous singed spice, anise and toasted fig bread notes flitter through the finish, though this needs some time in the cellar to fully resolve. A very distinctive, structured expression of St.-Emilion. Best from 2016 through 2035. 7,500 cases made.

Intense aromas of wet earth, leaves, sweet berries and cinnamon follow through to a full body, velvety and dense tannins, and a long, flavorful finish. Opulent style. Just opening now, but this shows lots of stuffing, even if it tightens on the palate. Integrated and fine. Drink or hold.

The 2010 Figeac has a deep hue. The nose is quite introverted at first, with dark berry fruit, incense, touches of fig and mulberry. The palate is beautifully balanced with a fine bead of acidity, gorgeous pure fruit, mulberry and dark plum, gentle considering the vintage. This 2010 has softened in the last couple of years, gaining depth toward the finish. Very persistent—this is just beginning to show what it is capable of. Tasted at the vertical in Berlin.

Elegant, refined, fresh, and vibrant, the wine opens with roses, cigar wrappers, forest leaves, red plums, and black cherries. Soft, lifted and with a good sense of balance, harmony, length, and purity, the wine has just entered the start of its drinkability period. Drink from 2022-2050.

Dark ruby, purple reflections, delicate ochre rim. Attractive dark berry fruit, tobacco, herbal and spicy background, nuances of plum and blackberry, fine oak, some leather, still very restrained on the nose. Powerful, complex, sweet texture, well-integrated supporting tannins, some nougat and black cherry on the finish, chocolaty touch, shows very good length, a Vin de Garde that still seems to be waiting for someone to press the start button. (2030 - 2070).

Very dark, inky colour. Fine oak on the nose, roasted coffee, blackcurrant, dark plum, spices and tobacco. The palate is really dense and full, with gentle extraction and excellent-quality tannins, persistent and lingering with attractive, juicy dark plum, blackcurrant, leather, tobacco and fine spices; very long finish; superb potential.

Based on a normal mix of close to equal parts Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Cabernet Franc, the 2010 is still youthful yet certainly offers pleasure today. Deep ruby/plum-hued with a classic Figeac nose of red and black currants, tobacco leaf, chocolate, and truffle, and it certainly seems more Médoc than Saint-Emilion. Beautifully balanced on the palate, it's medium to full-bodied, and has silky tannins, a terrific mix of both richness and freshness, and an overriding sense of elegance. It's a gorgeous Figeac just coming into its own, with another two decades of prime drinking ahead of it.

Deep purple, dense at the core, with garnet highlights at the rim. Brilliant bouquet, fine herbal notes, red plums and redcurrants, delicate Ruby Port nuances, very seamless on the attack. Elegant start on the palate, lots of suppleness and a plush, velvety extract, good backbone, showing parallels with its 2001. After tasting around 50 Saint-Émilions, I tasted it again at leisure. There are few crus this year that come across as so harmonious and so charming. If you’re looking for wines in this price range, put it on your shopping list. Tasted three times. (19/20). 12: Quite dark garnet-purple, slightly lightening at the very edge. An intoxicating yet very delicate bouquet, forest-like sweetness and a hint of very ripe cherries, wild berries and also sweet Amarena cherries, Irish Moss lozenges in the background. On the palate, silky, with a velvety, very fine, seamless texture, all with sensational balance. A great Figeac that is growing into a legend and will stand well above its ’82 and ’90, if only for its power and its barely perceptible concentration.

Fruity, silky, deep, sweet, complex bouquet: blue berries, strawberries, tobacco, fine woods, pralines, vanilla. Balanced, multi-layered, velvety palate with dense fruit, plenty of fine tannins, powerful aromatics; long, dense, fruity finish with cedar and currants. Still has room to improve. 18/20 2018 - 2035

More weight through the palate than the 2009, with reserved but muscular and chalky tannins, this is concentrated, majoring on black fruits, earning its reputation as a Left Bank-styled St Emilion. Beautiful curls of gunsmoke and violet flowers emerge as it opens, with fennel, black truffle and crayon. Give it a little longer in the bottle. Harvest September 27 to October 18, yield 33hl/ha. 100% new oak for ageing.

Magnificent freshness sets it slightly apart, yet the vintage shows through in the thickness of the texture for this cru and in the absolutely remarkable straightness of the wine’s structure on the palate. A great Figeac.

Elegant attack, medium-bodied, fairly tannic, fine, with personality.

Dark, intense and beautiful color. Fine, fruity nose, but a touch brisk. Juicy and aromatic from the first sip, the wine shows a medium body and a lovely presence from mid-palate through the finish, where it really scores points. Long and very pleasant, with a beautiful texture.

Many 2010 St-Emilion are over the top, with high alcohols, but not Figeac. The nose is starting to evolve, with lush blackcurrant and mint aromas, and hints of bacon and liquorice. Sleek and concentrated, the wine still shows admirable freshness. It's assertive and peppery, has power and spice, and its long, majestic finish is sustained by its fine-grained tannins.

A blend of 35% Cabernet Franc, 35% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 30% Merlot, the 2010 Figeac is deep garnet colored with a touch of brick. It needs a bit of coaxing to reveal notes of baked black cherries, cassis, and redcurrant jelly, with fragrant wafts of clove oil, Chinese five spice, unsmoked cigars, and dried lavender. Medium to full-bodied, rich, and plush in the mouth, it has layer upon layer of savory-sweet flavors and just enough freshness, leading to a long and fragrant finish on this gorgeous wine.

This Cabernet Sauvignon-dominated wine always stands out as a powerhouse of impressive tannins. In 2010, it is complex with a dense structure, tight mineral texture and dense wood. Underneath, the ripe black fruits bring the promise for the long-term future. Give this wine at least 10 years.