Chateau Figeac

History

The issue of ownership is a relatively straightforward aspect of Figeac's history. The Manoncourt family has owned this vineyard for over 130 years; from Bordeaux's perspective, this signifies a continuous line of succession rather than a series of corporate mergers and acquisitions.

Thierry Manoncourt was the figure who changed the way this estate was run. He began bottling a second wine starting with the 1945 vintage and was one of the first Bordeaux growers to implement strict selection based solely on quality. Instead of being quietly blended in or discarded, the grape juice that did not make it into the Grand Vin was used to create a second label.

That second wine carried a different name until the 2012 vintage, after which it was named Petit-Figeac.

Figeac is the Premier Grand Cru Classé of Saint-Emilion. It remained a Grade B wine for a long time but has now achieved Grade A status. Since the 1960s, long before visits to the château became a marketing tool, hospitality has been a part of daily life, and visitors are still free to explore the vineyards and fermentation rooms directly, rather than being kept to a fixed route.

The vineyards

Location plays a very important role here. Château Figeac is located west of Saint-Emilion, on the route de Libourne, while Pomerol begins near the edge of the vineyard.

Encircling all of this is a 3-kilometer-long hedge of small oak and hawthorn trees planted 100 years ago. This is not merely a decorative feature. Furthermore, rather than a single climate prevailing across the entire property, several distinct microclimates coexist. Each plot is managed separately throughout the year and is treated individually during the winemaking process.

The terroir

Two features characterize the geology of the Château Figeac region: the Gunzian gravel layer exposed at the surface and the underlying clay layer. This combination is rare in the Saint-Emilion region, where limestone and clay predominate.

Because gravel drains quickly and warms up easily, Cabernet Sauvignon grape varieties are able to ripen properly. The underlying clay layer provides sufficient moisture even during dry summers. The winery attributes the wine's lively, high-toned character, where notes of peony and graphite stand out more than pure fruit flavors, to the lightness of the soil.

In short, this vineyard imparts wines that are both structured and fresh. Even in hot, sunny years like 2015, 2018, and 2020, this freshness remained a defining characteristic of the wine. In cooler, more challenging vintages, such as those from 2011 through 2014 and 2017, the characteristics of the terroir are most clearly revealed.

The grapes

Three varieties are cultivated, and the combination of these varieties makes up Figeac. Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc together account for about two-thirds of the blend, while Merlot makes up the remainder. In most Saint-Emilion blends, this ratio is reversed.

The exact proportions vary by vintage. Here are two examples:

• 2016: Cabernet Sauvignon 38%, Merlot 36%, Cabernet Franc 26%
• 2021: Cabernet Sauvignon 40%, Cabernet Franc 31%, Merlot 29%

Cabernet forms the wine's body, providing a firm, taut texture on the palate from the mid-palate onward and leaving a long, robust finish with mineral notes. Merlot is responsible for most of the rich flavor and charm in young wines. Over time, the flavors of Merlot gradually fade, and the characteristics of Cabernet become more prominent, this is the typical evolution of Figeac as it ages in the cellar.

Winemaking

In 2021, Château Figeac opened a new 5,000 m² wine cellar, partly built underground to blend seamlessly into the site. Inside, there are custom-made stainless steel and wooden fermentation tanks. Designed to meet High Environmental Quality standards, the facility also features two tasting rooms.

The reason for installing all these small fermentation tanks is to pursue precision. Over the decade from 2010 to 2020, the team has sought to create wines that purely reflect the characteristics of the specific vineyards from which each lot was produced; only after each vineyard and variety has fully revealed its unique characteristics are they included in the final blend.

The style has also evolved. Since the early 2000s, this wine has become more approachable in its youth, offering a smooth and rounded palate while retaining the vertical, solid structure that unfolds over the following decades. This is a substantial change and an important point to keep in mind before deciding when to open the bottle.

Figeac and Petit-Figeac

Château Figeac is a Grand Vin. It has a deep crimson color; when young, it features prominent floral aromas and a crisp, fresh character, which evolve into notes of tobacco leaves and truffles as it ages. Underlying all of this is the solid structure characteristic of Cabernet. It can be enjoyed young or aged for decades, something not every Saint-Emilion winery can honestly guarantee.

Petit-Figeac is a second wine. All the grapes are grown in the Château Figeac vineyard itself and are carefully selected from the same vintage. This wine has existed since 1945, but it has been released under its current name since 2012.

Both wines are made from the same three grape varieties grown on the same gravelly soil and are produced in the same winery. The difference lies not in their origin but in the selection process.