CHÂTEAU FIGEAC
2022 1er Grand Cru Classé A Saint Emilion
A blend of 35% Merlot, 34% Cabernet Franc and 31% Cabernet Sauvignon, the 2022 Figeac is a brilliant wine with which to celebrate this property's elevation to Premier Grand Cru Classé "A" status. Wafting from the glass with aromas of raspberries and cassis mingled with notions of iris, forest floor, cigar wrapper and pencil lead, it's medium to full-bodied, pure and perfumed, with a deep and multidimensional core of fruit, bright acids and beautifully refined tannins. Serious yet civilized, it's the quintessential Figeac, testament to the late Thierry Manoncourt's vision to plant such a large proportion of Cabernet, and on drought-resistant rootstocks. Such is the inherent complexity of Figeac's terroirs that harvest took place sub-block by sub-block between September 1st and 25th. Congratulations are in order for the Manoncourt family, director Frédéric Faye, consulting winemaker Thomas Duclos and all their team. Rating: 98-100 William Kelley, The Wine Advocate (Apr 2023)
* This is a pre-shipment/primeur offer. All orders are accepted under the TERMS of this offer which differ from the terms of the rest of the site.
The 2022 Figeac was picked between 1-26 September with the pH of 3.7 and 14% alcohol. This wine combines both Left Bank and Right Bank traits due to its blend (as usual), but this year leans more to the Right Bank despite a slightly lower contribution of Cabernet Sauvignon. It is very well defined, fresh and shows lively black fruit, incense and nuanced Chinese tea aromas. The palate is beautifully balanced with a lightly spiced entry, fine depth and with plenty of concentration counterbalanced by finesse toward the graphite-infused finish. Its saline aftertaste beckons you back for another sip. An appropriate way to start your tenure as a Grand Cru Classé "A". Drinking range: 2032 - 2070 Rating: 97-99 Neal Martin, www.vinous.com (Apr 2023)
Vibrant damson in colour, edges of gunsmoke and red rose petals on the aromatics, as you so often find in Figeac, with dense cassis, black cherry, incense, graphite, slate, mint leaf, cocoa bean, cappucino and liquorice on the palate. This is creamy but airy, and full of joy. Close to the 2016 vintage in its construction and effortless confidence, no question of the ageing ability of this wine, and a fine vintage to mark the first year as Premier Grand Cru Classé A. Breaking down how they got here, you find inevitably careful winemaking with no pumping over, cool 26C for fermentation, making use of techniques learnt in the hot, dry summer of 2018, from cover crops to minimum green harvesting. Blend finished including 8% press in March, 3.7ph, harvest began September 1, earliest on record, until 26, second vintage in new winery. Frederic Faye director. Drinking range: 2032 - 2050 Rating: 98 Jane Anson, www.janeanson.com (Apr 2023)
35% Merlot, 34% Cabernet Franc, 31% Cabernet Sauvignon. 3.7 pH. ‘A little’ 14% alc. 34 ha/hl average over the three plots. 8% press wine. 2022 Figeac has all of the ingredients of a monumental wine. In common with other estates that have made incredible wines this year, the fruit was pristine when it arrived at the winery. Then the skills of the winemaking team were deployed in not extracting any more depth of flavour or perfume than was necessary. A gossamer-smooth extraction and a cool, long fermentation were all that was needed to create one of the silkiest and most enchanting wines on the Right Bank. The deep-rooted Cabernets hold firm here, with Merlot decking the powerful Cab structure in beautiful finery. It is easy to get lost in the flavour, but the tannins mount a stealthy attack two-thirds of the way into the experience, warning that this is a gloriously serious wine with a very long life ahead. Powdery, laser-sighted, drenched in graphite, and with ultra-fine sootiness, this is a masterclass in how tannins can make a delicious wine into a genuinely exultant experience. This is my favourite young Figeac of all time. As I left the château, I walked through the winery, explicitly designed to isolate individual parcels of fruit to increase the complexity and intricacy of the final blend. It is clear that this new facility has had a profound effect on 2022 Figeac, and I have a feeling that this is not the first time that I will go gaga for a new Figeac release. By all accounts, Petit Figeac is a wine worth tracking down, too, although I am sworn to secrecy as to why. Rating: 19.5+ Matthew Jukes www.matthewjukes.com (May 2023)
This is a wonderful illustration of what Figeac and its legendary trio of merlot, cabernet sauvignon and cabernet franc can offer. We cannot remember tasting another vintage as fresh as this: its floral subtlety totally belies what was a very hot year. Remarkable for its intensity and for its dynamic nature, not to mention its overall harmony. Rating: 97-100 La Revue du Vin de France (May 2023)
The blend is 35% Merlot, 34% Cabernet Franc and 31% Cabernet Sauvignon, and it includes 8% press wine in the finished blend. The yield was 34 hl/ha, 40-45 hl/ha on the old vines, the overall figure brought down by limited green harvest on the young vines to protect them in the warm and dry conditions. It takes 82% of the crop, the rest is in Petit Figeac, produced to keep the label on the market rather than being necessitated by the vintage. It has a beautifully fresh and pure style, with pure Cabernet cherry fruits, floral violet notes, with blackcurrant, black pepper and touches of white peach and orange peel. The palate is no less enticing than the nose, with floral fruits, red berries and juicy cherries, rose petals and black pepper, with a slowly building energy, and a fine backbone of well-knit, integrated tannins. The tannic structure persists into the finish with a very firm, tight core of tannins which persist in a long finish. This feels like a classic but equally elegant and floral interpretation of the Figeac terroir. The alcohol is 14%, and the élevage will be in 100% new oak. A very strong Figeac indeed. Rating: 97-100 Chris Kissack, www.thewinedoctor.com (May 2023)
35% Merlot, 34% Cabernet Franc, 31% Cabernet Sauvignon. Cask sample. A signature Figeac, the Cabernet coming through on the nose and palate. Floral, cassis and graphite notes. Plenty of energy, the fruit juicy and rich but not excessive. Ripe, abundant tannins behind. Long, persistent finish. Just a hint of oak in the background. (JL) 14% Drinking range: 2032 - 2050 Rating: 18 James Lawther MW, www.JancisRobinson.com (May 2023)
This is the earliest ever harvest for Figeac and the fruit is something else. Flowers such as violets. Blackberries. Currants. Cherry blossom. Full-bodied with lovely freshness and depth. Crunchy and juicy. Perfect al dente fruit. 35% merlot , 34% cabernet franc and 31% cabernet sauvignon. Rating: 97-98 James Suckling, www.jamessuckling.com (May 2023)
The 2022 Figeac is a magnificent, super-classic Figeac, as odd as that might sound in this freakish vintage. A wine of sublime delicacy and nuance, the 2022 possesses tremendous aromatic presence, finely sculpted fruit and phenomenal persistence. I especially admire the wine's freshness, energy and clean, mineral finish. The 2022 is a towering Figeac, a wine that brilliantly showcases the unique qualities of this site. Figeac is a rare Right Bank estate with gravel and blue clay soils that are not often found here, planted approximately with equal parts Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon. Drinking range: 2032 - 2052 Rating: 96-99 Antonio Galloni, www.vinous.com (Apr 2023)
Château Figeac
Figeac is a very ancient estate dating from the Gallo-Roman period. Its origins go back to at least the 2nd century, at which time it belonged to the Figeacus family, who gave their name to the “villa” located on this site. Château Figeac has been in the family of the present owner since 1892. Thierry Manoncourt, later assisted by his wife, Marie–France, took great pains to renovate the vineyards in order to bring Figeac up to the level of the very greatest Bordeaux. Today, his daughter Laure and his son-in-law Count Eric d’Aramon have joined them in managing the estate, and perpetuating the family tradition. Figeac is located in the “Graves de Saint Emilion”. It has an unusual topography and outstanding terroir consisting of three gravelly outcrops. This explains why Figeac is the right bank wine chateau with the highest proportion of Cabernet grapes. It is a great but atypical wine, often called “the most Médoc of Saint Emilion wines”.
Please make sure that you have read the terms of this offer which are different from those on the main website. If you are unclear as to what is involved in primeur purchases please do contact our private client team via email or on 020 7018 0187.
Ordering
Prices are all in bond by the case size stated.
Pre-Orders are a firm commitment to buy wines on release, as long as the release price is within the upper and lower price bands set by you on the pre-order form. Pre-orders will be fulfilled subject to availability but providing this firm commitment to buy effectively gives you priority and is a good idea for the most desirable wines.
Wines listed on the website can be ordered in the usual way via the website wishlist order form. You can also send orders directly to our private client team via email. Please note that, for the most sought-after wines, priority will be given to those who ordered the same wines last year and to those that have pre-ordered.
Confirmation
All orders will be confirmed by email and are binding unless written cancellation is received within seven days of email confirmation. Pre-orders are not binding if the release price is above your upper price band.
Invoices are all raised at the in bond price (excluding any duty and VAT) which will become payable at the prevailing rates when the wines arrive in the UK, should you wish to take duty paid delivery.
Payment is required on sight of invoice, by cash, cheque, debit card or bank transfer. We regret we cannot accept credit cards for en primeur orders. We reserve the right to apply a dunning charge of 2% per month on invoices unpaid after 30 days.
Delivery
- Shipment to our bond (at LCB Creek Road) and insurance are included in the in bond price.
- Delivery is free to Lea and Sandeman / Elephant storage accounts, both duty paid and in bond.
- Other deliveries (In Bond and Duty Paid) are also free subject to a minimum order from the offer of £500. Orders below this total will be charged an administration and handling fee of £16.50+ VAT when invoices are issued. We will group deliveries and this is a charge for your entire purchases, not a per-case charge.
- Delivery of 2024 Bordeaux bought en primeur is expected during 2026. Delivery dates may vary as wines are shipped from Bordeaux at different times.
Practical notes - how it works
We start a sale in each customer's name and add all their primeur orders to one sale which is invoiced at the end of the campaign (or when the customer wishes). Immediate payment of invoices is then required by cash, cheque, debit card or bank transfer. We and our customers find that having a single invoice for the vintage is the simpler option but please note that confirmed orders are still binding even if the final invoice has not yet been issued.
Please specify on your wishlist order form where you would like the wines shipped on arrival in the UK. If this is to a third-party bonded warehouse, please specify the relevant account details. If the wines are required duty-paid we will issue a second invoice for duty and VAT at the prevailing rate when the wines are available for delivery.
Half-bottles, Magnums and larger bottles.
One of the additional advantages of buying en primeur is being able to order the wine in the format you want. While most of our listings are for 75cl bottles, we can source wines in any format that is offered by the Château. Please note that format requests cannot be changed once wines have been invoiced. Additional charges for special formats do apply and are as follows:-
- +£18.00 per case of 12 half-bottles
- +£30.00 per case of 24 half-bottles
- +£7.50 per case of 3 Magnums (2 bottles equivalent, 1.5 litres each)
- +£11.00 per case of 6 Magnums
- +£45.00 per individually boxed Double Magnum (4 bottles equivalent, 3 litres)
- +£60.00 per individually boxed Imperial (8 bottles equivalent, 6 litres) for Salmanazars, Balthazars, Nebuchadnezzars and Melchiors please enquire for availability and price.
Storage Options:
Wines bought en primeur won't arrive in the UK until 2026. If you do not wish to take home delivery at that point, you may wish to consider where you would like the wines shipped. Lea & Sandeman offers duty paid and in bond storage through a dedicated storage company called Elephant Storage. For more details on the terms and fees associated with storage please go to our Storage Homepage or contact our private client team for more information.