CHÂTEAU FIGEAC
2024 1er Grand Cru Classé A Saint Emilion
39 Cabernet Sauvignon, 33 Merlot, 28 Cabernet Franc: 100% new oak: 13% alc: 3.66 pH: 31 hl/ha: Harvested between 20 September and 5 October Blandine de Brier Manoncourt kindly explained that a massive 21% of the fruit was eliminated from this wine after super-strict sorting and re-sorting were ruthlessly employed in the winery. The result is a stunning nose that acts as a fabulous welcome, followed by a velvety, succulent, super-complex, and enveloping palate. There is no dip, just relentlessly silky, mouth-filling fruit notes that romance the senses with elegance, length and coolness. In addition, the finish is not overtly tannic, just crisp and alert with its barely visible tannins and crystalline acidity. The Cabernet Sauvignon, in particular, has done a stellar job in straightening the whole wine up, giving it a fabulous length and control. Apparently, the signs of greatness were evident in the vineyards as the seeds were already ripe in August. All that was needed was a decent hang time to build complexity, and the conditions were favourable, albeit tense! The crew was patently aware of the phenolic perspective and potential here, and all that was required was patience. No fewer than 80 vineyard staff were on standby for harvest, and as these specialists come back to Figeac year after year, they are superbly well-drilled, amazingly reliable and precise. Their skill and dedication have paid off. In common with the other elite wines of this challenging vintage, the property’s hallmarks are telegraphed directly and unflinchingly throughout this wine, meaning Figeac’s incredible identity is plain. As Blandine says, “The identity of Figeac is to say hello to the pebbles and feel the air.” And it is overwhelmingly evident that she has helped rediscover and elevate the identity of this remarkable property. This is a spectacular wine. Rating: 19/20 Matthew Jukes www.matthewjukes.com (May 2025)
In Bond
75cl bottles (wood case of 3)
* 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.
Deep garnet-purple colored, the 2024 Figeac opens with classic notes of cassis, kirsch, pencil shavings, and violets, leading to nuances of mint tea and underbrush. The medium-bodied palate is dense with tightly wound black and red berry flavors, framed by firm, fine-grained tannins and wonderful tension, finishing very long with lots of mineral and floral sparks. An absolute triumph in this vintage. Tasted twice with consistent score and notes. Rating: 96-98 Lisa Perrotti-Brown MW, The Wine Independent
Vivid plum and ruby colour, clear ripe raspberry and damson fruits, sappy quality, fine tannins. The Cabernet Franc slowly unfurls its floral waves, violets and iris, with white flowers, savoury black fruits, good energy and length. Figeac has shown over and over again that it can deliver wines that succeed and delight in many different kinds of vintage conditions, and it is an estate to have confidence in. 31hl/ha yield, 100% new oak, 8% press, 3.66pH. 31hl/ha yield. They deleafed on both sides for the first time since technical director Romain Jean-Pierre arrived 13 years ago. Harvest September 20 to October 5. Drinking range: 2032 - 2046 Rating: 95 Jane Anson, www.janeanson.com (May 2025)
This is very refined with lovely tannins and freshness. Medium-bodied, it has a savory, juicy undertone and a satisfying finish. Some chocolate. A blend of 39% cabernet sauvignon, 33% merlot and 28% cabernet franc. Rating: 94-95 James Suckling, www.jamessuckling.com (May 2025)
The 2024 Figeac was picked September 20 to October 5 at 31 hl/ha after sorting, as the natural yield was 36 hl/ha. The château sacrificed 21% of the crop (which I witnessed first-hand when I called in during harvest and toured the reception) and it matured entirely in new oak with 8% vin de presse. That wood is neatly assimilated on the nose with blackberry, raspberry and light pine resin scents, all fashioned with wonderful delineation. Later, a hint of wilted rose petal emerges from the glass. The palate is medium-bodied with fine tannins and a keen line of acidity. This is very elegant and classical Figeac in style. There is a little more linearity, but this feels quite effortless overall. Its buvabilité is perhaps higher than other vintages, even if the likes of the 2020 or 2022 might have longer legs. This becomes spicier with aeration, which seems to prolong the finish, especially on my second visit toward the end of my tastings. Drinking range: 2033 - 2060 Rating: 93-95 Neal Martin, www.vinous.com (May 2025)
39 CS 33 M 28 CF 13% Extraordinarily ripe deep cassis and black fruit aromas, with damson and sloe, and some notes - but not much - of the new oak (100%) giving spices, smoke and liquorice. Palateflooding depth in the mouth with huge concentration. Lovely depth of Cabernet fruit flavours - cassis and crème de mûre as well as deep tannins, and freshness of acidity. This is a triumph for the vintage with lots of the terroir of Figeac, and none of the greenedged hardness that lingers elsewhere. The unusual assemblage and low yield of 31hl/ha here reflects the rigorous selection in the vineyard. The Cabernet Sauvignon was the greatest success, harvested after the rain. Four sortings: manual, densimetric, optical and a further manual resulted in 21% of what had been harvested being rejected. Rating: 95 Rod Smith MW, www.timatkin.com (Apr 2025)
Silky and aromatic, with velvety tannins, the 2024 Figeac is sublime. Floral and savory aromatics meld into a core of blue/purplish fruit, spice, licorice, lavender and menthol. All the elements are so well balanced. The blend is 39% Cabernet Sauvignon, 33% Merlot and 28% Cabernet Franc, with 8% press wines. Not surprisingly, the 2024 is a very Cabernet-driven Figeac. Production is 60,000 bottles, or 50% of normal, because of low yields and further selection in the cellar. Tasted two times. Drinking range: 2034 - 2054 Rating: 93-96 Antonio Galloni, www.vinous.com (Apr 2025)
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. Many properties specify a standard case format, and may make additional charges for six-bottle cases, for example. We offer wood cases of six bottles as standard where these are available without extra charge, but we can source wines in any format that is offered by the Château. If you want six-bottle cases where a 12 bottle case is offered, please check for the extra case charge. 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
- +£9.50 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 2027. 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.