Figeac St-Emilion 2019

100 points Peter Moser (Falstaff): "Dark ruby, purple reflections, subtle watery rim. Nuances of oak, dark forest fruit, a hint of cassis and liquorice, fine tobacco nuances, spices, orange zest, still a little reserved. Complex, cherries, well-integrated tannins, mineral and lasting, elegant style with a fine fruity finish, salty on the aftertaste, delicate liquorice in the finish, immensely harmonious, absolute ageing potential, however, patience is required. Leave to mature. (1/1/22)"

100 points Lisa Perrotti-Brown (The Wine Independent): "Composed of 36% Cabernet Franc, 34% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 30% Merlot, the 2019 Figeac is deep garnet-purple colored. It needs considerable swirling to coax out its alluring perfume of redcurrant jelly, juicy blackcurrants, and blackberries, with underlying suggestions of candied violets, chocolate box, fragrant earth, and lavender plus a touch of crushed rocks. Medium to full-bodied, the palate has a mind-blowing array of layers with exceptionally ripe, fine-grained tannins and jaw-dropping tension, leading to a fantastically persistent mineral and floral-tinged finish that makes your heart stop. With its energy, structure, and incredible depth, truly, this is a towering triumph. Alcohol 14.1%. Drink: 2027-2067. (5/9/22)"

99 points Antonio Galloni (Vinous): "The 2019 Figeac is without question one of the wines of the vintage. All the promise it showed as a young barrel sample, is all there in bottle, too. Estate Director Frédéric Faye crafted a towering, statuesque Figeac built on vertical energy and a feeling of vibrancy that never lets up. Deep layers of red/purplish fruit, cedar, tobacco, mint and dried flowers are framed by a super-classic expression of structure that keeps things in balance. There is a bit more Cabernet Franc in this year's blend, and that definitely comes through. Readers who can find the 2019 should not hesitate, as it is truly majestic. Drink: 2034-2069. (Feb 2022)"

97-99 points Chris Kissack (Winedoctor): "In this vintage we have a blend of 30% Merlot, 34% Cabernet Sauvignon and 36% Cabernet Franc, all picked between September 13th, so quite an early start bearing in mind this is a week or more before the rains, with picking continuing until October 7th. Even the Cabernets, picking of which began on September 19th, came in before the rains. The alcohol is 14.1%. A beautiful dark hue in the glass, black cherry with a rich royal red rim. And it has a beautifully expressive nose, dark yet scented and lifted, seeming quite classic for Figeac, with cherry stone and curranty notes transmitting some sense of the ripeness of the vintage, with an ethereal note of mint coming from the Cabernets, wrapped up in lightly toasted oak. This confident start is matched by a beautifully concentrated substance to the palate, dense but focused, pure, with essence of blackcurrant, black cherry and black plum, that leafy freshness notes on the nose a minor note here, what the Cabernets now provide is a focus and definition, with a great central spindle of ripe tannins providing backbone to the wine. The structure feels pervasive and long in the finish, ripe and beautifully knit together. It is focused, correct and polished, respecting the history of the estate as well as the vintage, and with a long, elegantly gripped finish. Excellent potential here. (Jun 2020)"

98 points Jane Anson (Inside Bordeaux): "(34% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot, 36% Cabernet Franc). This is a gorgeous Figeac, balanced and finessed and full of promise for the future - and interesting to note that its blend is almost back to the classic third-of-each-variety of the pre-Rolland days. Just love the clarity and the chiselled quality to the fruits, blueberries, bilberries, cassis - all smooth, concentrated, with excellent acidity but high sweetness, and muscular tannins. Clear smoked sandalwood also but not a hint of dryness, and will clearly melt together with another five or six years in bottle. Can't wait to follow this wine as it ages. Cigar smoke and grilled sandalwood on the finish, the poise and precision on display here is just unmissable. Harvest September 13 to October 17, 100% new oak. Drink: 2028-2050. Alcohol 14.5%. (3/7/22)"

98 points James Suckling: "This is a really beautiful red with crushed-berry, plum, bark, mushroom and earth character. It’s full and creamy-textured with lots of tannins, but they are integrated and polished and flow across the palate. So much depth and intensity, yet there’s underlying grace and class. Try after 2025. (2/20/22)"

96-98 points Wine Enthusiast: "This is another magnificent vintage from this estate. It has density, elevated tannins and the purest black currant fruits. The Cabernet Sauvignon that always gives structure to the wine from this estate is there in abundance. The tannins are rich and dry, a combination that will ensure long-term aging."

97 points William Kelley (Wine Advocate): "The 2019 Figeac has turned out brilliantly. Wafting from the glass with aromas of blackberries, cassis, warm spices, violets and pencil shavings, framed by a deft touch of nicely integrated new oak, it's full-bodied, deep and concentrated, with terrific depth at the core, powdery structuring tannins and lively acids, concluding with a long, precise finish. Rich but vibrant, this 2019 reflects the new precision that Frédéric Faye has brought to Figeac; but while it's richer and more polished than the wines of yesteryear, the estate's identity hasn't been lost. Drink: 2029-2065. (Apr 2022)"

97 points Jane Anson (Decanter): "A higher amount of Cabernet Franc than usual in the blend, really get the Cabernet impact on the nose and on the attack, could easily say Left Bank with the liquorice root, menthol and leafy character. A rich creaminess comes in through the mid palate, with sappy raspberry fruits alongside salinity and minerality. The exuberance of a warm summer is there but it is well hidden under the precision of the tannic structure overall. An extremely impressive and signature Figeac. Juicy on the finish and oh so careful in its tannic delivery. 100% new oak. A yield of 34hl/ha, higher than 2018. 3.7pH. Drinking Window: 2028-2046. (May 2020)"