Château Figeac - Saint-Emilion Grand Cru 1989

Wine Spectator

91 / 100

byJames Sucklingthe5/31/1999

Rich, with lots of character. Chewy St.-Emilion, featuring green tobacco, dried cherry and fruit aromas. Full-bodied, with velvety tannins and a chocolate finish.--1989 Bordeaux horizontal.

Wine Advocate

83 / 100

byRobert Parkerthe2/28/1997

One of Bordeaux's most schizophrenic properties, as disappointing as Figeac's 1989 has turned out, the 1990 is fabulous. This property has not made a wine as rich as the 1990 since 1982. The 1989 is an undernourished, tough-textured, lean, herbaceous wine with a medium ruby color, little charm, and an absence of concentration and intensity. Given the high percentage of Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon in the blend, it is not surprising that the wine reveals a pronounced green, vegetal character, but the lack of intensity and flavor was even more pronounced than I remember.

Wine Advocate

86 / 100

byRobert Parkerthe8/31/1993

The 1989 Figeac continues to display a lack of richness. Tastings have shown this to be a very good wine, with a seductive bouquet, forward, ripe, herb and berry flavors buttressed by new oak, and a herbaceous, soft finish. Anticipated maturity: Now-2002. Last tasted, 5/93.

Wine Advocate

86 / 100

byRobert Parkerthe2/28/1993

The 1989 has consistently displayed a lack of richness, suggesting high crop yields and too short a vatting time. My experience has taught me that Figeac is among the most perplexing wines to evaluate young, and often can do a 180 degree turnabout in quality. Medium ruby, with an olive, herb, vanillin, and berry-scented bouquet, this medium-bodied wine exhibits soft tannins and a precocious personality. Seductive and forward it may be, but some additional stuffing and extract could have resulted in a sublime wine. Anticipated maturity: Now-2002.

Wine Advocate

86 / 100

byRobert Parkerthe4/30/1992

The first time I tasted the 1989 I rated it exceptional, and concluded it was the best wine produced at this estate since the 1982. It was a big, alcoholic, wonderfully concentrated, lavishly rich, intense sample. However, seven further tastings have all negated the early showing, with the wine merely performing in the good to very good category. In each instance, the wine displayed a lack of richness and revealed a slightly diluted finish, which suggest that the high crop yields and too short vatting time may have produced a wine that is no better than the third- or fourth-best Figeac of the decade. My experience has taught me that Figeac is among the most perplexing wines to evaluate young, and often can do a 180 degree turnabout in quality. Medium ruby, with an olive, herb, vanillin, and berry-scented bouquet, this medium-bodied wine exhibits soft tannins and a precocious personality. Seductive and forward it may be, but some additional stuffing and extract could have resulted in a sublime wine. The exceptional 1990 blows the 1989 away. Anticipated maturity: Now-2002. Tasted eight times. Consistent notes.