Figeac St-Emilion 2016 375ml

99 points Panos Kakaviatos (Decanter): "Refined and classy, like a Hermes suit all in place, balancing ripe black and cool blue fruit aromas with cedar, echoed on the palate, which exudes succulent damson and tobacco leaf freshness. Powerful yet refined tannin balanced by high alcohol and high acidity evoking spherical wine, with exciting freshness on the finish. The precision and focus coming from the 74% Cabernets in this vintage's blend counts as the best of the previous decade from Figeac: a superstar! Serve with only the finest of dishes. Drinking Window: 2025-2065. (Apr 2022)"

99 points (19.5/20) La Revue du Vin de France: "En primeur, the 2016 immediately positioned itself as one of the wines of the vintage, expressing accomplished fruit, with great raspberry/chlorophyll intensity and striking depth, which never loses its charm. Graceful, smooth, culminating in a stretched, mineral finish, of high class. (2019)"

99 points James Suckling: "Incredibly deep and complex nose with a slew of black fruit, plus savory and bitter-chocolate notes woven subtly into the extraordinary tapestry of aromas. Titanic concentration, but it still remains so incredibly fresh and poised. Such a pure finish that goes on and on and on. Drinkable now, but best from 2024. Château Quintus vertical tasting. (6/14/22)"

97-99 points Wine Enthusiast: "This aromatic wine is magnificent in its balance and richness. With its high proportion of Cabernet Sauvignon (38%), it is so typical of this estate. The tannins are velvety while packing a firm punch. Dark and concentrated, it is a great wine for long-term aging. (Apr 2017)"

98+ points Antonio Galloni (Vinous): "The 2016 Figeac is simply extraordinary. A wine of pure energy and vitality, the 2016 pulses with a real sense of drive. Lavender, mint, crème de cassis and cedar start to develop in the glass, but what is most remarkable about the 2016 is its total sense of harmony. There is natural tension, a sort of push and pull, between the wine's intense fruit and structural underpinnings that makes the 2016 a marvel to taste and contemplate. It was positively stunning in two separate tastings. Technical Director Frédéric Faye and his team made an epic Figeac in 2016. Drink: 2026-2066. (Jan 2019)"

98+ points Jeb Dunnuck: "Another brilliant wine from the genius of Frédéric Faye, the 2016 Château Figeac checks in as 38% Cabernet Sauvignon, 36% Merlot, and the rest Cabernet Franc that spent 19 months in new French oak. Roughly 75% of the production made it into the grand vin. This deeply colored beauty is a legendary wine in the making and offers ultra-pure aromas and flavors of crème de cassis, smoke tobacco, dried herbs, chocolate, truffle, and graphite. Showing more violets notes with time in the glass, it builds incrementally on the palate, with flawless balance as well as incredible elegance, no hard edges, and a finish that won't quit. Readers will have a blast comparing the 2016 and 2015 vintages over the coming 3-4 decades and this estate is firing on all cylinders. This will most likely merit a triple-digit rating in 7-8 years and keep for 4 decades or more. Drink: 2026-2066. (2/28/19)"

98 points Neal Martin (Vinous): "The 2016 Figeac has another dimension aromatically, compared to the previous vintage. A cornucopia of aromas, red and black fruit, cedar, pencil shavings, truffle and a subtle marine scent that becomes more prominent with aeration. The palate is framed by chiseled tannins, the acidity is finely tuned, the fruit shimmers with tension and nascent vivacity. You can’t help but swallow this Figeac, and so I must apologize to the spittoon. Pixelated from A-to-Z, it will be thrilling to watch this mature. Tasted at the château. Drink: 2026-2060. (Dec 2021)"

98 points Peter Moser (Falstaff) (1/1/22).

98 points Chris Kissack (Winedoctor): "A fairly traditional blend for Figeac in this vintage, with 36% Merlot, 38% Cabernet Sauvignon and 26% Cabernet Franc. The élevage was in 100% new oak, the barrels sourced from five coopers, and the wine was bottled at the end of July. This kicks off with a very refined, pure and expressive nose, one filled with perfumed Cabernet fruits, violets and rosebuds, with some slightly wild and savage elements to the black fruits, coming from the Cabernets I think. Certainly, delving deep into the wine, it reveals a black olive intensity, with a chalk dust and rose petal perfume, that feels very Cabernet in origin. The palate is so polished and supple, with a lightly creamed generosity, beautifully framed, with a fresh, bright and tightly knit bed of tannins sitting beneath it. This is gripped, yet it remains at ease with itself, harmonious, with savoury black elements and twists of pencil shavings and cigar wrapped in praline and toast from the oak, although these elements are surprisingly subtle considering the percentage of new oak used. Only in the finish does the polished tannin reveal itself, so that the wine’s harmonious, fresh, supple and generous presence, with its polished structure, persists through to the finish. This is a fine result, and a testament to the fine work Frédéric Faye has done here. Only time will tell how high he can push quality here, no doubt aided by the new facilities currently under construction at Figeac. (Dec 2018)"

98 points Jane Anson (Inside Bordeaux): "38% Cabernet Sauvignon, 36% Merlot, 26% Cabernet Franc. Damson in colour and aromatics, this is reserved but not subdued at 6 years old, not yet ready to be drunk but showcasing already the ripe texture and layers of powerful blackcurrant pastille, blackberry and bilberry fruits. The minerality and salinity is striking also with touches of mandarin peel, cigar box, espresso, lemongrass even - pulses of fresher acidity that give poise and lift. Clearly exceptional, muscled and concentrated. 100% new oak. Drink: 2026-2050.. (3/7/22)"

97+ points Lisa Perrotti-Brown (Wine Advocate): "The 2016 Figeac is comprised of 38% Cabernet Sauvignon, 36% Merlot and 26% Cabernet Franc. Deep garnet-purple colored, the nose is a little broody and reticent at this very youthful stage, slowly unfolding to reveal profound plum preserves, crème de cassis, black raspberries and star anise with hints of moss-covered bark, truffles and tilled loam plus a waft of red currants and raspberry leaves sparks. Medium to full-bodied, the palate is practically quivering with energy, offering glimpses at tightly wound black fruit and mineral/ferrous layers, framed by very firm, ripe tannins and wonderful tension, finishing long with the spices coming through. This will need a good 7-8 years to come round and then should cellar for 40+ years. Very serious, beautifully poised and sophisticated personality this vintage. Drink: 2025-2065. (Nov 2018)"