Saint-Émilion Grand Cru Classé A

37% Merlot
32% Cabernet Franc
31% Cabernet Sauvignon

Region: Bordeaux 

ESTATE HISTORY 

Located in the heart of the Saint-Émilion area, a UNESCO World Heritage site, Château-Figeac is the flagship estate of a family that has always been committed to promoting and advancing the region’s prestige and reputation.

From time immemorial, the land and the people of Château-Figeac have played an active part in the life of the City of Saint-Émilion and of the Bordeaux region, whether at the time of Élie de Carle, [“knight of the vines”], in the 18th century or, more recently, of Thierry Manoncourt and his descendants. President of the Jurade de Saint-Émilion brotherhood for 23 years, he travelled all over the world, accompanied by other winegrowers from both Right and Left banks and paved the way for future generations.

TERROIR

Spanning 54 hectares (133 acres) in a single sweep, the entire estate has First Growth status, though nearly a quarter is left unplanted with vines in order to preserve a high-quality living environment and an overall natural balance. Here, biodiversity is both self-evident and a long-standing commitment. With its château, its exceptional vinegrowing terroir and its remarkable natural areas, the estate is regarded as the green oasis of Saint-Émilion. Château-Figeac’s vinegrowing terroir is a geological exception for its appellation, with three quartz and flint gravel outcrops, several metres deep, and blue clay subsoil, forming an infinite patchwork of plots planted with the three grape varieties which give the wine its core identity.

Although the oldest vines date back to 1921, the average age of the vines in the nearly 41 hectare (100 acre) vineyard is 35 years. In recent years, 35% of the vineyard has been replanted while conserving its specific character, following a detailed study of the soil, climate and vegetation.

VITICULTURE

Certification is a logical extension of the mindset of the Manoncourt family and those who work for them, acutely aware of the environmental value of the estate as an ecosystem to be protected. Thierry Manoncourt loved being able to “observe these signs of life, large and small, that we protect but do not control”.

In 2013, the 54 hectares (133 acres) were listed as a “natural wildlife reserve”. Château-Figeac committed to ISO 14001 certification in 2015 under the first Environmental Management System for the Bordeaux vineyard. The company has Level 3 HVE High Environmental Value certification.

Château-Figeac also carries out a host of initiatives to study and protect biodiversity, especially bats, bees and pollinating insects, and has set up partnerships with organisations like the French League for the Protection of Birds, the national agricultural research institute INRA and the Chambers of Agriculture network.

WINEMAKING

Grapes harvested by hand, traditional and intra-plot vinification using a gravity-feed process, sustainable viticulture.
Maturing: 100% in new oak barrels, 15 to 18 months
Consultant winemaker: Michel Rolland

TASTING & FOOD PAIRINGS 

Château-Figeac has always been acknowledged as one of the top Bordeaux wines with the best ageing potential, gaining a highly flavourful and succulent complexity over the years. It can be enjoyed just as much in its youth as after several decades.
First to be appreciated is the colour, with deep shades of crimson that recall Tyrian purple. On the nose, the wildly appealing Merlot notes of its youth give way to striking depth that is balm to the soul of all Cabernet lovers.
Its aromas reflect the lightness of the soil, expressed in a highly subtle, ethereal bouquet in which notes of peony, infused fruit and graphite demonstrate bright vitality. The two-thirds of Cabernet in the blend quite literally sculpt the body, strengthening the grip from the mid-palate and rolling out a long, taut and vibrant backbone with very pure mineral notes on the finish. The whole is perfectly enfolded in lush, satin tannins in the style of the highest of high fashion. With time, the wine develops flavours of tobacco-leaf with hints of black truffle, while retaining incomparable freshness of fruit. A glimpse of perfection…