Figeac St-Emilion 2020

100 points William Kelley (Wine Advocate): "The 2020 Figeac is the finest wine that has been bottled to date at this estate since its renaissance began a decade ago. Wafting from the glass with aromas of blackberries and raspberries mingled with cigar wrapper, pencil shavings, licorice and black truffles, it's medium to full-bodied, deep and concentrated, with a suave, harmonious profile, vibrant acids, and beautifully refined structuring tannins. This sapid, complex wine represents the essence of this great terroir. Two years after extensive soil studies of the estate were carried out, and the first growing season to see cover crops used in the vineyards year-round, the 2020 benefited from more coherently demarcated parcels and more precise élevage, which taken together help to account for its edge over the excellent 2019. Drink: 2030-2065. (4/6/23)"

100 points International Wine Report: "The 2020 Chateau Figeac is simply breathtaking. It is a beautifully crafted wine made from 37% Merlot, 32% Cabernet Franc, and 31% Cabernet Sauvignon that showcases the elegance and power of the vintage, with dazzling aromas of blackberries, violets, graphite, tobacco and a touch of crushed stone. On the palate, it strikes a seamless balance between richness and refinement, offering layers of dark fruit, fine-grained tannins, and well-integrated oak. There's a remarkable freshness, purity and vibrant energy beneath its polished exterior, hinting at its impressive aging potential. With its depth, structure, and aromatic complexity, this is a standout vintage from Figeac that promises to evolve gracefully over the next three decades. Drink: 2030-2060. (Apr 2025)"

99 points Lisa Perrotti-Brown (The Wine Independent): "A blend of 37% Merlot, 32% Cabernet Franc, and 31% Cabernet Sauvignon, the 2020 Figeac has a deep garnet-purple color. It is completely shut-down and silent to begin, requiring a vigorous shake to release nuances of boysenberries, Morello cherries, fresh, crunchy plums, and sassafras, followed by an emerging waft of plum preserves, licorice, chargrill, and violets. The medium-bodied palate is so, so tightly knit, delivering a millefeuille of black and red berries, minerals, earth, and floral notes, with electric tension and very fine-grained, exquisitely ripe tannins, finishing long, long, long. Atomic! Alcohol 14.1%. Drink: 2028-2064. (3/12/23)"

99 points Jeff Leve (The Wine Cellar Insider): "The purity, elegance, refinement, and walls of perfectly ripe, sweet, sensuous fruits are almost off the charts here! Aromatically, the floral bouquet with accents of espresso, black plums, cherries, black raspberries, spice, licorice, and wet earth can keep any taster busy for ages. But the magic really hits you when the wine begins caressing your palate with its opulent, luscious, silky, velvet-drenched layers of fruit, and freshness which steals the show. The seamless, 60-second plus finish is riveting, inspiring you to go back for another sniff, swirl, and sip for the pleasure of it. I do not often drink when tasting. But we finished every drop of this bottle. This is a serious candidate for triple-digit perfection after a decade of aging. Drink from 2027-2065. (Mar 2023)"

98+ points Jeb Dunnuck: "The Grand Vin 2020 Château Figeac checks in as 37% Merlot, 32% Cabernet Franc, and 31% Cabernet Sauvignon that spent 18 months in new barrels. They also utilize plenty of press wine, and the 2020 has 8% in the blend. Straight-up awesome aromatics of crème de cassis, ripe black cherries, iron, spring flowers, and an almost bloody, salty character emerge from the glass, and it's full-bodied, with a seamless mouthfeel, gorgeous tannins, plenty of mid-palate depth, and absolutely perfectly integrated oak. It's still tight and reserved, which is certainly the vintage, so do your best to hide these in the cellar. It should hit the early stages of its prime drinking window in 8-10 years and will have 30+ of overall longevity. It will unquestionably flirt with perfection at maturity. Drink: 2031-2053. (3/29/23)"

98 points Jane Anson (Inside Bordeaux): "(37% Merlot, 32% Cabernet Franc, 31% Cabernet Sauvignon). The first vintage since they were crowned Premier Grand Cru Classé A (although not on the label until 2022), and it's a confident showing straight out of the gate. Barely puts a foot wrong as the concentrated nature of this wine En Primeur begin to melt into a creamier expression of raspberry, blackberry and cassis fruits, studded with turmeric, cardamon, white pepper, peony, tobacco leaf, pomegranate, liqourice and smoked earth. 75% of the production in the 1st wine, harvest a long and leisurely five weeks from September 4 to October 1. 37hl/ha. An upscore. Alcohol 13.8%. Drink: 2028-2050. (1/16/23)"

98 points Chris Kissack (Winedoctor): "The 2020 from Figeac opens with a sweet and gloriously focused nose, layered with blackcurrant, smoked black cherry, graphite and liquorice, all very driven and delineated. This precedes an elegant, poised and freshly composed palate, with dark summer fruits, fragrant rose petals, liquorice and a touch of mint, all set in a polished and rich texture. This has great volume, draped over a ripe and finely knit tannic backbone, the entire composition blessed with purity and grace. This has great poise, and super length too. A brilliant result. (Mar 2024)"

97 points Neal Martin (Vinous): "The 2020 Figeac has a very refined nose with a sense of control and brooding intensity as the black and red fruit gradually unfurl. The palate is medium-bodied with a sapid entry, wonderful mineralité and firm grip—a more structured Right Bank. The finish is quite compelling, but this clearly needs time. Closing with enormous length, this is a serious 2020 for the most patient. A stunning Figeac from tip to toe. Tasted blind at the annual Southwold tasting. Drink: 2030-2065. (Nov 2024)"

97 points/'Cellar Selection,' Wine Enthusiast: "[$260 list] Newly promoted to Premier Grand Cru Classé A, the very highest rung of Saint-Emilion's hierarchy, this estate is at peak performance. This new release, rich in Cabernet Sauvignon, has an impressive structure as well as modulated, velvet tannins. It is a serious, concentrated wine, still just starting out. Drink the wine from 2027. Alcohol 14%. (Sep 2023)"

97 points Peter Moser (Falstaff): "Deep ruby colour with opaque core, purple reflections. On the nose subtle hints of spicy oak, tobacco cedar,dark berry fruit, a hint of liquorice and cassis. The palate is complex and shows juicy, ripe cherries and well-integrated tannins, nougat and pepper. Very lasting, salty finish, great ageing potential. (5/28/21)"