Figeac St-Emilion 2021

97 points Jane Anson (Inside Bordeaux): "(40% Cabernet Sauvignon, 31% Cabernet Franc, 29% Merlot). These guys have always known how to keep a steady hand on the extraction, and that skill comes in to play in 2021. This is such a gorgeous Cabernet Franc-led expression of the vintage, with its iris and violet notes, crushed brambled fruits and high smoke aromatic. Subtle but savoury, mouthwatering, gentle complexity, they have leaned in and leaned back with the challenges of the vintage. Delicious quality, for earlier drinking with a ton of pleasure. One of my wines of the vintage En Prmeur, and remains so. The last vintage before promotion to Premier Grand Cru Classé A. No fining, and extremely light filtration. 100% new oak. Romain Jean-Pierre technical director. 38hl/h yield, harvest September 21 to October 19. First vintage with the new cellar. Alcohol 13%. Drink: 2028-2041. (1/30/24)"

97 points Georgina Hindle (Decanter): "Deep, complex and precise, what a wine in 2021. Grippy and intense, this captures attention and holds it: the sharp zing of acidity, wet stone minerality, crystalline fruit. Bright and fresh, excellent tannin integration, mid-palate depth and a salty, liquorice twist at the end. You almost want to chew this wine, yet it's spot-on and totally moreish; freshness is the focus but not a beat is missed with the texture and mouthfeel. No one can be disappointed with this wine! Drinking Window: 2028-2050. (Dec 2023)"

95-97 points Wine Enthusiast: "The wine is fresh with a fine structure from the 70% Cabernet Sauvignon and Franc in the blend. It is a structured wine, light while also showing ripe black currant fruits and an edge of spice. With its fine acidity at the end, this is an excellent reflection of the year. (6/20/22)"

96+ points William Kelley (Wine Advocate): "A wine that transcends the vintage's challenges, the 2021 Figeac is performing brilliantly in bottle, wafting from the glass with aromas of raspberries and cherries mingled with striking top notes of violet, rose petal, iris and mint. Medium to full-bodied, satiny and suave, it's pure and vibrant, its enveloping core of fruit framed by ultra-refined tannins, concluding with a long, floral finish. Readers in the habit of drinking top grand cru Burgundy are liable to find themselves seduced by this immensely elegant, perfumed Saint-Émilion, a wine I'll definitely be adding to my own cellar. It's the result of gamble that paid off, as Figeac's team chose to wait to pick their Cabernet Sauvignon despite the menace of forecast rain—a menace that, in fact, scarcely transpired. The 2021 saw a somewhat shorter-than-usual élevage of 16 months in barrel without fining. Drink: 2027-2050. (2/8/24)"

96 points Jeff Leve (The Wine Cellar Insider): "Floral, energetic, and fresh, this is the perfect example of elegance and class. The nose, with its bouquet of flowers is made even better with the addition of cigar wrappers, mint, cherries, plums, black raspberries, cocoa and espresso. The medium-bodied palate is fresh, with layers of red, and dark red fruits, refined-textures, and a finish with length, purity, and a salty savory, minty endnote. This is a perfect example of a modern classic wine blending 40% Cabernet Sauvignon, 31% Cabernet Franc and 29% Merlot. Drink from 2026-2055. (3/5/24)"

96 points Lisa Perrotti-Brown (The Wine Independent): "A blend of 40% Cabernet Sauvignon, 31% Cabernet Franc, and 29% Merlot, the 2021 Figeac has a deep garnet-purple color. After a little shaking, notes of juicy blackberries, crushed blackcurrants, and black raspberries erupt from the glass, followed by touches of violets, licorice, and cedar chest, plus a waft of dark chocolate. The medium-bodied palate vibrates with energetic black and red berry layers, supported by firm, ripe, grainy tannins and a refreshing backbone, finishing long and minerally. Beautiful! Alcohol 13%. Drink: 2027-2050. (4/23/24)"

96 points Rod Smith (TimAtkin.com) (May 2022).

95 points Jeb Dunnuck: "The Grand Vin 2021 Château Figeac checks in as 40% Cabernet Sauvignon, 31% Cabernet Franc, and the rest Merlot that was brought up in 100% new barrels. Hitting 113% alcohol and a pH of 3.65, it's a gorgeous 2021 that has both red and black currant fruit, classic tobacco, lead pencil, and violet aromatics, medium to full body, beautiful tannins, and just about flawless balance. It's clearly up with the crème de la crème of the vintage. I'd happily drink a bottle today, yet it's going to benefit from 4-6 years of bottle age and cruise for at least two decades. It's pure class. Drink: 2028-2048. (4/3/24)"

95 points Peter Moser (Falstaff): "Deep ruby garnet core fading to purple at the rim. Fine dark forest berry nuances, delicate savoury nuances, a touch of nougat and cherries. Juicy, elegant, fresh and balanced, subtle sweet fruit extract, ripe tannins, finessed and already approachable, mineral, very precise, endowed with good length and a salty finish; a great companion at the table. (5/27/22)"

95 points James Suckling: "This wine has beautiful aromas of graphite with plums, berries and some dried flowers. Medium-bodied with juicy fruit and an iron and chocolate undertone. Firm and integrated tannins and a lightly chewy finish. Serious for the vintage, it needs to come around with bottle age. First year in the new winery. Best after 2027. (7/8/24)"