Figeac - Saint-Emilion Grand Cru 2015

Decanter.com

100 / 100

byJane Ansonthe1/26/2018

From the very first sip you see why certain wines just have a hold on the imagination. This has the full intensity of St-Émilion with none of the need to shout about it or push its point home. It's just effortlessly intense and confident, with flavours of liquorice, pencil shavings, damson and cassis. It has wonderful freshness and balance, and full grip from firm tannins. Complex and persistent, this is an absolute joy to taste. 100% new oak.

Jeb DUNNUCK

100 / 100

byJeb Dunnuckthe11/30/2017

Decanter.com

97 / 100

byJane Ansonthe11/15/2017

This is rich and exuberant, showcasing the warmth of the vintage. It's still basically a primeur wine with beautiful blue-violet reflections, although it was bottled in April and will stay at the estate until January 2018. With silky-smooth tannins, this is a seriously elegant and delicious wine. The coffee stained palate is full of rich black cherries, tight cassis and finely grained tannins. The 2016 has just a touch more focus but that is splitting hairs, as both are exceptional vintages at Figeac. This has real persistence and a mouthwatering quality on the finish, a seriously enjoyable wine that never tries to overpower or show off.

The Wine Cellar Insider

95-97 / 100

byJeff Levethe4/30/2016

This wine displays the darkest hue of any Figeac vintage I recall seeing. The nose, with its floral, gravel, tobacco, earth and spearmint profile, is a real treat. On the palate, the wine offers a fresh, vibrant blast of perfectly ripe, sweet, blackberry, boysenberry, plum and a dash of cocoa. The tannins are silky with good concentration, freshness and purity of fruit. Interestingly, the wine does not seem like it’s going to last on your palate, but it surprises you, as it just keeps going and going until morning, with a sweet climax of juicy plum, licorice and cigar wrapper notes. Clearly, the best Figeac in years. From a blend of 43% Cabernet Sauvignon, 29% Merlot, and 28% Cabernet Franc, the wine reached 14% alcohol with a pH of 3.75. The wine will be aged in 100% new, French oak for 18 months. The picking took place September 21 to October 15 and the Grand Vin was produced from 65% of the harvest.

Wine Advocate

97-99 / 100

byNeal Martinthe4/29/2016

The 2015 Figeac is a blend of 29% Merlot, 28% Cabernet Franc and 43% Cabernet Sauvignon that was picked from 21 September with the Merlot until 15 October with the Cabernet Sauvignon at 41 hectoliters per hectare. The Cabernet comes through strongly on the nose - classic Figeac in many ways - black fruit, a touch of cassis, pencil and a touch of rose petal. The palate is drop-dead gorgeous, its foundation a lattice of filigree tannin and perfectly judged acidity. It is very fresh from its vivacious start to its pencil-lead finish imbued with effortless grace. It is almost comical that naysayers decried that Michel Rolland would turn Figeac into some kind of fruit bomb. Head winemaker Frédéric Faye has overseen a tip-top classic Figeac without any of the greenness that occasionally affected older vintages, now boasting a level of precision up there with the very best in the Right Bank. It was difficult to find fault with this quite astonishing Saint Emilion and who knows what could transpire once it is in bottle.

Bettane & Desseauve

19-19,5 / 20

the4/28/2016

Dès le nez, aux accents de fruits rouges très purs, on ressent toute la race d’immenses cabernet-sauvignon. Avec 43 % de sauvignon, 28 % de franc, 29 % de merlot pour un total de 65 % de grand vin, le cru signe un très grand millésime, d’une fraîcheur et d’une profondeur splendides. Grands tannins fins et racés, pointe de graphite, harmonie parfaite, remarquable allonge. Un figeac pour l’histoire.

Decanter.com

95 / 100

byJames Lawther MWthe4/28/2016

Classic style but added precision this year. 43% Cabernet Sauvignon, 28% Cabernet Franc, 29% Merlot. Fragrant floral and dark fruit notes. Lovely depth of fruit on the palate. Ripe, enrobed tannins provide a velvety texture as well as persistence and length. Overall freshness and harmony. The 100% new oak is completely integrated.2025-2045

Vinous

93-96 / 100

byAntonio Gallonithe4/27/2016

The 2015 Figeac is superb. A blast of tannin hits the palate first followed by waves of inky purplish fruit, exotic spices, new leather, lavender and mint. Beams of pulsating acidity and structure give the 2015 much of its super-distinctive personality. The 2015 is powerful and built to age, that much is clear. In 2015, Figeac brings together the generosity of the year with the classic sense of structure that is so unique to Figeac, with a touch greater polish that Michel Rolland has brought since he arrived. The 2015 is compelling. It's as simple as that.

Jancis Robinson

18 / 20

byJancis Robinsonthe4/26/2016

29% Merlot, 28% Cabernet Franc, 43% Cabernet Sauvignon. Lovely combo of opulence and freshness. The Cabernet Sauvignon surely helps. Real drive and Figeac character. Real savour. Sappy. 14%. Drink 2025-2045.

timatkin.com

96 / 100

byTim Atkin MWthe4/20/2016

Wine Enthusiast

96 / 100

the4/15/2016

95–97. Barrel Sample. Although the wine has a fine velvet texture, this is deceptive. Behind this facade is a wine that is powerful, dense and full of dark, brooding tannins. The Cabernet Sauvignon in the blend (43%) gives both the juiciness and the fine black currant flavors. It is going to be a very fine wine as it ages.

Jean-Marc QUARIN

17,5 / 20

byJean-Marc Quarinthe4/14/2016

Ma meilleure note donnée à ce cru en primeur. Depuis 2011 ce cru surfe sur une vague ascendante ! Deux choses le séparent de tous ses concurrents : un assemblage original : 43 % cabernet sauvignon, 28 % cabernet franc, 29 % merlot et un inénarrable raffinement qui s'est doublé depuis quelques années d'un peu plus de puissance mûre et heureuse. Tel est le 2015 à la couleur pourpre, intense et belle, au nez aromatique, fin, fruité, mûr et profond. L'entrée en bouche est pulpeuse et le vin se développe de suite sur un toucher raffiné avec beaucoup d'éclat dans le goût ce qui est un point majeur. Fondant, savoureux, il offre une saveur de raisin et s'achève long et séveux. Un magnifique retour en gloire. Bravo. Degré d'alcool : 14°. pH : 3.75. Sélection 65 % de premier vin soit un peu moins que de coutume.

René Gabriel

20 / 20

the4/10/2016

43 % Cabernet Sauvignon, 28 % Cabernet Franc, 29 % Merlot. 41 hl/ha. Undurchdringliche Farbe Violett mit fast schwarzen Reflexen. Unglaublich würziges, schier tintiges Bouquet, Nelkenköpfe, Heidelbeeren, Lakritze. Im Gaumen dicht, fleischig, eine sehr ausgeglichene Adstringenz liefernd, präzise ausgerichtet, frisch, floral und schwarzbeerig. Extrem nachhaltiges Finale. Das hört fast nie auf - unglaublich. Das ist, seit dem Jahrgang 1998 der allerbeste Primeur-Figeac. Und er wird ihn vielleicht gar noch übertreffen. Eigentlich konnte man ihn nur auf dem Weingut selbst degustieren. Das ist für mich die fraglose Saint-Emilion-Sensation beim Jahrgang 2015! Davon werde ich viel kaufen! 20/20 2025 – 2050

Jamessuckling.com

97-98 / 100

byJames Sucklingthe4/5/2016

This is the most structured Figeac in modern times. I tasted wines from this estate from the 1920s and 1910s but this is something. Full and powerful. Pure and focused. Extracted Cabernet sauvignon, merlot and cabernet franc.

Wine Spectator

94-97 / 100

byJames Molesworththe4/3/2016

This has eye-opening power and depth, with a well of currant, fig and blackberry fruit that is supported by fresh tobacco and warm stones notes. Grippy through the finish, with a loam note adding more bass, this still stays focused and integrated.—J.M.

Vinifera

4-5 / 5

Belle robe sombre. Nez très élégant, profond, avec des nuances florales de toute beauté. Corps magnifique avec une trame précise, l’apport des cabernets étant ici très bénéfiques. Beau tanin ciselé, savoureux, profond. Un très beau Figeac, profond et racé.