Château Figeac
The history of Château Figeac
Château Figeac is located in the heart of Saint-Émilion and covers 54 hectares.
It was in the 15th century that Chateau Figeac began its viticulture activities. After having belonged for many years to the Cazes family and the Carles family, the castle was dismembered parcel by parcel by successive owners in 1838. In 1892, Château Figeac was bought by the ancestors of the Manoncourts. They launch the plans of the castle and its wine, which will be classified thereafter in the rank of 1st classified great vintage B belonging to the classification of Saint-Emilion of 1955.
In 1920, the château became a wine apprenticeship center for the nation’s wards. Since 1892, Château Figeac has belonged to the same family, the Manoncourts.
It is Thierry Manoncourt who, from 1947 to 2010, brought a sense of innovation, a respect of the living and a very big attention towards the environment and the biodiversity. Thierry Manoncourt was called the “pharaoh of Saint Emilion”. He will impose his style and his vision of wine on many vintages. In 1947, he had planned to settle in Figeac for one year to help his parents. It was then that he discovered the immense potential of this terroir and devoted his entire life to it. In 1956, his wife joined him in this adventure. He and his wife were among the first people from Bordeaux to participate in the first delegation to the United States in 1967. They will travel to Asia, Japan, Hong Kong, Germany, Chile… to “sing figeac”. This is how today Château Figeac travels to different continents.
In 1970, time for change! They decided to vinify 100% in new barrels and to bottle exclusively at the château. From 1988 to 2013, their daughter Laure and her husband Count Eric Aramon moved to Figeac to take over. Château Figeac was one of the first wineries to create their website in 1990. They will celebrate in 1993, the 100th vintage harvested by the family with the creation of a special label for this vintage. Then, in 1995, it is the 50th vintage of Thierry Manoncourt with also the creation of a special label. He died in 2010, on the eve of his 65th vintage.
We owe the label of the Château Figeac, to the uncle of Thierry Manoncourt, Robert Villepique an agronomist with the temperament of artist. The label was created in 1906. The Chateau Figeac label does not have an engraving of the chateau like some labels, but the name of Chateau Figeac in red. There is also a wax seal symbolizing the guarantee of reliability and the anchoring in time. It is a unique label representing the independence of the codes.
In 2012, the second wine of Chateau Figeac, takes the name of Petit-Figeac formerly called the Grange Neuve de Figeac. Frédéric Faye took over the general management of Château Figeac in 2013 and gave the château a new impetus. Chateau Figeac 2019 will be described as one of the top three wines of Bordeaux as well as in the ranking of the 100 most influential brands in the wine world.
To top it all off, in 2022, Chateau Figeac climbed up the Saint-Emilion classification and became a Premier Grand Cru Classé A.
The Château Figeac vineyard: from vine to wine
Chateau Figeac has several microclimates with clay subsoils. Its grape variety is composed of ⅔ of Cabernet which brings structure, finesse and freshness, 43% of Cabernet Sauvignon and 28% of Cabernet Franc and finally 29% of Merlot.
Château Figeac is naturally committed to the preservation of biodiversity with approximately 12 hectares of natural space on 54 hectares.
Chateau Figeac is the only chateau among the First Great Classified Growths of Saint Emilion to have wanted to keep and preserve the natural areas and protect them. This is the personality of Château Figeac.
Harvesting is done by hand. The vinification and maturation are gravitational for the respect of the wine. Chateau Figeac has 8 custom-made French oak vats with 40 stainless steel truncated cone vats. Chateau Figeac also has two large underground barrel cellars for the aging of their wines.
Château Figeac has a production of about 120,000 bottles per year.
Vintages include: 2019, 2016, 2010, 2009, 1998, 1995, 1982 and 1971.
Matching and structure of the wines of Château Figeac
Depending on the year, Château Figeac has very different ageing capacities. The average ageing capacity is 15 to 30 years. To keep this wine well, it is ideal to store it in an aging wine cabinet between 12 and 14 degrees and in a wine cellar: 10 to 13 degrees and a humidity level between 70 and 75%. It is served at a temperature of 15 degrees.
Château Figeac has a deep purple color, an exceptional longevity as well as a complex bouquet that reveals itself on the different vintages.
At the level of the nose, we speak about crazy charm merloté in its youth. In aromas, we find: peony and infused fruits. Over the years, the wine takes on aromas of tobacco leaves and black truffles.
Concerning Petit Figeac, you will find the same know-how of the Château Figeac team. Petit Figeac is less ample and lighter with a beautiful length in mouth with a great seduction.
The wine of Chateau Figeac belongs to the family of great Bordeaux wines that evolve best over time. Its evolution is translated by a tasty and greedy complexity. Moreover, Château Figeac can be enjoyed as much on the first vintages as on the old vintages.
For the food and wine pairing we advise you to accompany it with a grilled red meat or in sauce, but you can also accompany it with a game with ceps. With cheese like maroilles for dessert.
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