2018 Château Figeac Saint-Emilion Grand Cru, Bordeaux, France

ABOUT THIS WINE

The blend is 38% Cabernet Sauvignon, 36% Merlot, and the balance Cabernet Franc, raised all in new oak.

In Saint-Emilion, intense rains and storms persist until the beginning of summer, amplifying the requirement for monitoring in the vineyard.
In April, temperatures higher than seasonal norms stimulate the growth of the vines. Early and rapid flowering begins on May 25. Early harvests of around ten days are already being announced. From May to mid-July, several episodes of hailstorms in the surrounding area punctuate the evenings. Figeac is spared each time. Idyllic weather sets in from mid-July to the end of the harvest. Without the shadow of a cloud, lulled by warm temperatures and dry air, the grapes complete their growth and begin their maturation. Supported by these very favorable weather conditions, veraison took place at the beginning of August, confirming the precocity of the vintage.
In its solar waltz, summer has dried the earth, cleansed the vines and filled the grapes with sugar. The seeds, a beautiful dark brown color, announce tannins of great finesse from the end of August. This phenomenon is rarely observed by winegrowers. Thanks to constant vigilance and a magnificent summer, the health status is excellent. Optimal maturity is synonymous with balance and harmony.

ABOUT THIS PRODUCER

Château-Figeac owes its unique character to the unique combination of three ridges of Günzian gravel with clay subsoils, several microclimates and a grape variety composed of Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and Merlot. This original blend, dominated by 2/3 Cabernets, gives the wine structure, finesse, freshness and smoothness. Since the beginning of this century, Château-Figeac has been able to make itself available from its first years with a more caressing mouthfeel without losing its incomparable verticality over the years. Its longevity over several decades is exceptional, with an inimitable and complex bouquet that reveals itself over time. Château-Figeac has always been recognized as one of the great Bordeaux wines which evolve best over time, gaining a tasty and delicious complexity over the years. It can be enjoyed both in its first years and after several decades.

Its aromas transcribe the lightness of its soils which results in a very subtle airy olfaction: peony, infused fruits, graphite demonstrate a beautiful vitality. The 2/3 Cabernets literally sculpt the material, reinforcing the base from the mid-palate, developing the long, tense, vibrant spine, with very pure mineral notes on the finish. The touch of satiny and pulpy tannin perfectly dresses the whole, in a very haute couture style... Over the years the wine takes on flavors of tobacco leaf, some nuances of black truffle while retaining an incomparable fruit freshness.