Tasting notes
Antonio Galloni · Vinous · 100
The 2023 Figeac is outrageously great. Dark, layered and explosive in the glass, the 2023 possesses mind-blowing intensity and pure power. Hints of lavender, crème de cassis, sage, menthol, spice box and pipe tobacco soar from the glass. Brisk acids and vibrant saline notes frame the close. All the elements are so artfully woven together. Absolutely nothing is out of place. Figeac is very clearly one of the wines of the vintage, The 2023 is also one of the finest wines ever made here. Merlots were picked starting September 6, while the Cabernets were harvested from September 26 to October 5, a very late finish. General Manager Frédéric Faye and his team turned out an extraordinary wine. Tasted two times.
William Kelley · Wine Advocate · 99
The 2023 Figeac has turned out beautifully, unfurling in the glass with a complex bouquet of blackberries and cassis mingled with notions of crushed mint, pencil shavings and violets. Medium- to full-bodied, supple and suave, it's layered and fleshy, with a deep and seamless core of fruit, animated by succulent acids that largely conceals its refined structuring tannins. It's a blend of 41% Merlot, 32% Cabernet Franc and 27% Cabernet Sauvignon that attained 13.5% alcohol, rewarding the decision to pick the Cabernet Sauvignon comparatively late.
Jane Anson · Decanter · 98
Fragrant floral aromatics straight off the bat, peony and violet, and a vibrant juiciness that travels through the palate. Savoury dark fruit character, with flint and textural interest, full of Figeac finesse. 130th vintage of the Manoncourt family at Figeac, and the first vintage where they knew they were Premier Grand Cru Classé A from the start of the season, as it was announced in September 2022. 130mm of rain lower than average over the growing season here, allowing a long slow harvest from September 6 to October 5, 45hl/h yield.
Georgie Hindle · Decanter · 98
3.68pH
High-toned aromatics, purple fruit, blackcurrant, wet stones and minerality on the nose, really quite scented and alive, floral, purple flowers, and ripe black fruit with freshness too. Supple and succulent, a good plushness here, not chalky or chewy but ripe and cool at the same time. Hints of dark chocolate, liquorice, blueberry and wet stone also gives the mineral accents.
Silky but this wine has an amazing texture. Cool and classic, but there’s clear ripeness too. Almost thick, but refined. High acidity, great lift and zing - tannins are present and apparent, gently expanding around the mouth. It’s more serious than usual, a touch more firm with tension but equally it's structured with a long, mouthwatering finish. This will be lovely!
Drink 2030 - 2050
James Suckling · James Suckling · 97-98
The density and finesse to this is terrific, offering blackberry, dark chocolate, walnut and hazelnut, as well as currant and sandalwood. Orange peel, too. Full-bodied and compact with a superb core of thick, velvet-textured tannins and a juicy finish. Extremely long. 41% merlot, 32% cabernet franc and 27% cabernet sauvignon.
Jeb Dunnuck · Jeb Dunnuck · 97
Cassis, graphite, liquid violets, and scorched earth all emerge from the 2023 Château Figeac, a gorgeous, seamless, layered, classic 2023. Based on 41% Merlot, 32% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 27% Cabernet Franc and aged 16-18 months in new barrels, it has a tighter, more focused style due to the higher Cabernet percentage. Concentrated and medium to full-bodied on the palate, it has a pure, focused mouthfeel, ripe tannins, and a great finish. Hide bottles for 5-7 years and enjoy over the following two decades. Drink 2031-2053.
Lisa Perrotti-Brown MW · Wine Advocate · 96-98
A blend of 41% Merlot, 32% Cabernet Franc, and 27% Cabernet Sauvignon, the 2023 Figeac has a pH of 3.68 and it is deep garnet-purple in color. It prances out of the glass with out-going scents of black raspberries and fresh blackcurrants, opening out to reveal an undercurrent of pencil shavings, rose bud tea, iron ore, and wood smoke. The medium-bodied palate delivers a rock-solid structure of firm, grainy tannins and beautiful tension supporting the taut, muscular black fruits, finishing with a long-lingering mineral firework display.
Neal Martin · Vinous · 95
The 2023 Figeac was bottled in March 2025, a month earlier than usual, with no fining this vintage. This bides its time in the glass, gradually opening with raspberry, dark cherries, light pencil shavings and crushed stone scents. With time, it becomes more floral in the glass. The palate is medium-bodied, with sweet red cherry and wild strawberry notes on the entry, quite spicy with white and black pepper notes. Quite long on the velvety finish, this is a classy Figeac that will drink sooner than the previous vintage, but it is still a classy offering.
