2015 Chateau Figeac
By Chateau Figeac
2015 Chateau Figeac from Chateau Figeac, Saint-Émilion, Bordeaux
The 2015 vintage of Bordeaux has been met with well-deserved reverence, a sentiment that resonates deeply when one savours the 2015 Chateau Figeac from the esteemed Chateau Figeac. This vintage is a testament to the laudable skills of the vignerons and their adeptness at capturing the quintessence of a remarkable year.
Expressive Elegance: A Vintage to Remember
The year 2015 in Bordeaux was marked by an extraordinary confluence of climatic conditions, striking an impeccable balance between sunny days and cool nights - a recipe for wines of depth and longevity. The 2015 Chateau Figeac is no exception; it unfurls in the glass with a confident character derived from matured tannins and a harmonious trinity of Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Cabernet Franc.
The wine reveals layered complexity with dark cherries and blackberry confit at the forefront. These dark fruit profiles are impeccably woven with subtle hints of tobacco leaf, wet earth, and a wisp of graphite—signature nuances that have become synonymous with the gravelly soils of Chateau Figeac's terroir.
An Enthralling Encounter for Investors and Aficionados
As I revisited this vintage, it's clear that the 2015 Chateau Figeac is both an oenophile’s treasure and an astute investment opportunity. Its structural integrity suggests a long cellar life ahead, promising the evolution of its intricate flavours and increasing rarity. The investment potential burgeons when considering its place within the legacy of one of Saint-Émilion’s most storied estates. Fine wine investors should take heed: this vintage is crystallising its status as one of the standout performers from Saint-Émilion in this acclaimed year.
In essence, the 2015 Chateau Figeac encapsulates the distillation of exceptional weather patterns into an opulent liquid narrative. Should one seek to expand their portfolio or simply desire to indulge in Bordeaux’s finest offerings from 2015, overlooking this particular vintage would be nothing short of an oversight.
Market price (GBP)
£2,245.00
12x75cl
Highest score
98
POP score
124.72
Scores and tasting notes
This is the most structured Figeac in modern times. I tasted wines from this estate from the 1920s and 1910s but this is something. Full and powerful. Pure and focused. Extracted Cabernet sauvignon, merlot and cabernet franc.
James Suckling - jamessuckling.com
The 2015 Figeac is a blend of 29% Merlot, 28% Cabernet Franc and 43% Cabernet Sauvignon that was picked from 21 September with the Merlot until 15 October with the Cabernet Sauvignon at 41 hectoliters per hectare. The Cabernet comes through strongly on the nose - classic Figeac in many ways - black fruit, a touch of cassis, pencil and a touch of rose petal. The palate is drop-dead gorgeous, its foundation a lattice of filigree tannin and perfectly judged acidity. It is very fresh from its vivacious start to its pencil-lead finish imbued with effortless grace. It is almost comical that naysayers decried that Michel Rolland would turn Figeac into some kind of fruit bomb. Head winemaker Frédéric Faye has overseen a tip-top classic Figeac without any of the greenness that occasionally affected older vintages, now boasting a level of precision up there with the very best in the Right Bank. It was difficult to find fault with this quite astonishing Saint Emilion and who knows what could transpire once it is in bottle.
Neal Martin - eRobertParker.com, #224, April 2016
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.
Lisa Perrotti-Brown - The Wine Advocate, 21 February 2018
This has eye-opening power and depth, with a well of currant, fig and blackberry fruit that is supported by fresh tobacco and warm stones notes. Grippy through the finish, with a loam note adding more bass, this still stays focused and integrated.—J.M.
Wine Spectator - James Molesworth - winespectator.com
This has the second highest ever percentage of Cabernet Franc, as well as its customary backbone of Cabernet Sauvignon, giving the wine a freshness, perfume and structure that some St. Emilions lack in 2015. Plush, concentrated and built to age, with very fine tannins, classy oak and impressive length. Drink: 2022-40
Tim Atkin - timatkin.com
29% Merlot, 28% Cabernet Franc, 43% Cabernet Sauvignon. Lovely combo of opulence and freshness. The Cabernet Sauvignon surely helps. Real drive and Figeac character. Real savour. Sappy.
Jancis Robinson - jancisrobinson.com