2006 Château Figeac
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Tasting notes
Magnum. Made by Thierry Manoncourt. Transparent shaded ruby. Clearly evolved just to look at. Really very fresh but ripe and sweet initially, too, with flattering maturation. Stony nose. Precise and so different from the St-Émilion norm in 2006! Elegant. Clean and refreshing. Dry but not painful finish. My kind of wine. (JR)
Critic scores
Robert Parker
Neal Martin
More reviews and scores
35% Cabernet Sauvignon, 35% Cabernet Franc, 30% Merlot. Dark core but a bit more brick at the rim than the 2005. Definitely less sumptuous and more austere in style. Savoury and earthy on the nose with a hint of cassis. Exudes a certain power, the tannins firm and present. Less flesh than 2005 but sturdy and upright and still room to evolve. (JL)
Dark ruby in colour, this is a Figeac that captures the 'Left Bank' spirit that you often find in this wine. It majors on Cabernet Sauvinon-led tobacco leaf, cassis and blueberry fruits, with touches of salted caramel on the finish. Good juice on the finish, plenty of structure to the tannins still. 100% new oak for ageing. Harvest September 15 to October 3. 37hl/h yield.
The 2006 Figeac is a vintage that I have appreciated for some time, though this might be its best showing. Well-defined and vibrant on the nose, it is quite precise with expressive Cabernet Franc, touches of freshly-rolled tobacco and sage infusing the brambly red fruit. The palate is medium-bodied with fine-boned tannins, displaying a discrete marine influence. Hints of black olive emerge towards the finish with a touch of pencil box. Maybe it just stumbles in the final furlongs, yet it is a solid Figeac trying its damn best to please, despite its shortcomings. Tasted at the 2006 Bordeaux tasting at the Savoy Hotel, London.
About the producer
Sitting on the border with Pomerol, Ch. Figeac is a distinguished Saint-Emilion estate that produces some of the region's most sought-after wines. As of 2022, it is officially classified as a Premier Grand Cru Classé A, one of the appellation's top estates along with Ch. Pavie.