James Suckling 95/100, January 2020
Blackberries and violets with lots of perfume. Some roses, too. Full body. Very structured for this vintage with tight, lightly chewy tannins and a long, long finish. Creamy texture. Excellent density in the center palate. Try after 2023.
"2017 was the frost year, and we were hit hard," said managing director Frederic Faye. "We marked the vines and picked with many passes through the vineyard. We made just over 50,000 bottles in the end, about half our normal production." A blend of 47% Cabernet Sauvignon, 43% Merlot, and 10% Cabernet Franc, the 2017 Figeac is deep garnet-purple colored. It breezes out of the glass with perfumed scents of lilacs, juicy black cherries, and blackcurrant pastilles, plus suggestions of underbrush, incense, truffles, and potpourri. Medium-bodied, elegant, and refreshing, the palate has soft, skillfully managed tannins and a lively backbone, finishing long and fragrant.