Chateau Figeac 2015

WEINWISSER: "43 % Cabernet Sauvignon, 28 % Cabernet Franc, 29 % Merlot. 41 hl/ ha. Undurchdringliche Farbe, Violett mit fast schwarzen Reflexen. Unglaublich würziges, schier tintiges Bouquet, Nelkenköpfe, Heidelbeeren, Lakritze. Im Gaumen dicht, fleischig, eine sehr ausgeglichene Adstringenz liefernd, präzise ausgerichtet, frisch, floral und schwarzbeerig. Extrem nachhaltiges Finale. Das hört fast nie auf – unglaublich. Das ist seit dem Jahrgang 1998 der allerbeste Primeur-Figeac. Und er wird ihn vielleicht gar noch übertreffen. Eigentlich konnte man ihn nur auf dem Weingut selbst degustieren. Aber bei der Ulysse Cazabonne stand ein halbes Fläschchen zum nachverkosten. Das ist für mich die fraglose Saint-Émilion-Sensation beim Jahrgang 2015! Davon werde ich viel kaufen!"

JEB DUNNUCK: "A hold onto your hat wine, the 2015 Château Figeac is pure perfection and one of the wines of this terrific vintage. A blend of 43% Cabernet Sauvignon, 29% Merlot and 28% Cabernet Franc, its deep purple color is followed by a huge nose of crème de cassis, black raspberries, smoked earth, and graphite. This is followed by a full-bodied, opulent and incredibly concentrated Saint-Emilion that has everything in the right places, no hard edges, thrilling purity of fruit, and a great, great finish. This is one of those rare gems that carries huge intensity and richness, yet still glides across the palate with no sense of weight or heaviness. Winemaker Frédéric Faye thinks the 2016 is even better but that certainly isn’t stopping me from giving this crazy good wine a triple digit score. Everyone owes it to themselves to try and taste this wine at least once!"

THE WINE CELLAR INSIDER: "Clearly, the first great Figeac of the 21st century, this wine has it all. Mouth-filling, yet light on its feet, the wine is all about the purity of fruit, freshness, elegance, refinement, silky tannins and velvet drenched finish. This is a wine I am thrilled to have in my own cellar!"

DECANTER: "Exceptionally good quality and developing as expected. It's in a closed-down phase right now, which brings my score down a fraction, but I fully expect it to justify the 100 points I gave when tasting just after bottling. It's fleshy and velvety with menthol notes and an emphasis on the florality of the Cabernet Franc. After a few minutes in the glass the tannins start to relax and you see the cassis, caramel, slate, pencil lead and black chocolate notes underneath. I would give this another three or four years before it really starts to sing. This was Romain Jean-Pierre's first vintage as technical director and it was a dry year. Conditions were hot early in the season with fresher temperatures during ripening, giving an even harvest with well balanced wines. Made with 100% new oak. Drinking Window 2023 - 2050"

WINE ENTHUSIAST: "Dominated by the two Cabernets—Sauvignon and Franc—this is a beautifully structured wine. Firm tannins and ripe black currants give a perfumed character that is ripe, dense and impressive. The wine has enormous potential, with great tannins and fruit. Drink from 2027."

THE WINE ADVOCATE: "The recent leaps and bounds in improvements that have occurred at this great estate, equating to a dramatic increase in intensity and complexity—without compromising the husky, soft-spoken, sultry voice that is Figeac—is a monumental achievement. Kudos to Frederic Faye and his team for so beautifully expressing what was clearly an extraordinary vintage at Chateau Figeac! Blended of 29% Merlot, 43% Cabernet Sauvignon and 28% Cabernet Franc, the deep garnet-purple colored 2015 Figeac reveals vibrant black cherries, cassis, red currants, black plums and licorice notes with touches of cigar boxes, bouquet garni, potpourri, damp soil and black pepper. Medium-bodied, delicately crafted and with nuanced, quietly intense layers of vivacious red and black fruits, the palate features a solid frame of polished, rounded tannins and seamless freshness, finishing long and minerally."

JAMES SUCKLING: "Fabulous aromas of blackberries, black licorice and lavender. Rose petals, too. Full-bodied, deep and powerful with a sexy tannin texture of plush velvet. Long and caressing. Muscular and poised. Needs until 2022 to come together but a modern and focused Figeac."

FALSTAFF: "Dunkles Rubingranat, violette Reflexe, dezente Randaufhellung. Zart nach Pfingstrosen, reifen dunklen Beeren, angenehme Kräuterwürze mischt sich mit Brombeerkonfitüre und Noten von schwarzen Kirschen, ein Hauch von kandierten Orangen, dunkle Mineralität. Mittlere Komplexität, dunkelbeerige Frucht, schokoladige Tannine, mineralisch auch im Abgang, etwas Karamell im Nachhall, bereits gut entwickelt und zugänglich, könnte nach einer Stunde des Dekantierens bereits getrunken werden. (2021 – 2045)"

WINE SPECTATOR: WINESPECTATOR: “Densely packed, with crème de cassis, raspberry reduction and plum sauce flavors allied to notes of loam, warm cast iron and roasted apple wood. Shows terrific cut and energy, with the iron element helping to push the finish along and letting the fruit linger. Among the more backward wines of the vintage, so patience is required. Best from 2028 through 2045."

JANCIS ROBINSON: JANCIS ROBINSON: “Tasted blind. Rather overblown on the nose. Thick and a little sturdy with lots of chewy tannin. Very youthful, very ambitious."