Chateau Figeac Premier Grand Cru Classe A, Saint-Emilion Grand Cru 2005

The 2005 Château Figeac checks in as 35% Cabernet Sauvignon, 35% Cabernet Franc, and the rest Merlot, raised all in new barrels. Still a youthful ruby/purple hue, with a killer nose of ripe blackcurrants, chocolate, roasted tobacco, and lead pencil, this certainly earns its reputation for being the Médoc on the Right Bank with its powerful, Cabernet-driven style. It's rich, full-bodied, opulent, and incredibly sexy on the palate, with velvety tannins and a great finish. It’s a beautiful Figeac that benefits from air and has another 15+ years of prime drinking.

Interesting aromas of cedar, tobacco, dark fruits, cinnamon, and cigar box. Full and solid, with chewy tannins. A very direct, straight, and pure wine with lovely freshness. This is starting to close, give this some time.

This is a Figeac of rather brooding, earthy character that opens up with aeration to reveal its notes of cherry, tobacco, leather and then graphite and cedar on the finish. On the palate, this 2005 is a bit upright with tannins that are bit stricter than those of the 2006, but the two wines share an underlying delicacy. This one is a lovely wine ready to be enjoyed now and over the next ten years.

Cedar, ash, sandalwood, blackberry, with layers of nuanced, finessed yet gourmet flavours that Figeac delivers so well. The oak is fully integrated at 17 years old, beginning to hit its stride, and the exuberance is tempered by savoury redcurrant and soft tobacco notes on the mouthwatering finish. 100% new oak for ageing, 37hl/h yield from 40ha of vines. Harvest September 14 to October 3.

The 2005 Figeac has been a variable performer over the years, one where you never quite know what to expect until you pull the corks. As usual, it has a sullen bouquet at first before offering broody black fruit laced with melted tar and tobacco, hints of liquorice almost reluctantly evolving with time. The palate is medium-bodied and quite conservative, rather static in the glass, missing the tension and animation that I think recent vintages have conveyed. There is an impressive solid nature to this Figeac, though it lacks that crucial element...charm. Tasted at the Christies' Figeac dinner.

The 2005 Figeac is powerful and tightly wound. It does not possess the density or sheer sexiness of many Right Bank wines. Instead, the 2005 comes across as strict and severe. I am not sure the searing tannins will ever soften enough for the 2005 to be truly pleasurable. There is good brightness and plenty of power, but also vegetal, minty notes that are a bit distracting.

Medium ruby-red. Cool, scented aromas of blueberry, violet, licorice and dark chocolate; dominated by the cabernet franc. Then sharply focused, vibrant and fine-grained, with the minty austerity Figeac often shows in its youth. Figeac is always hard to assess at this early stage, but this vintage impresses with its liqueur-like cherry flavor. Finishes with very firm, slightly dry tannins.