Figeac 2009

Paler than most. Luscious, opulent nose - very come-hither. Cool and fresh. Complete. Still a bit simple but there are no excesses here. Just slightly timid on the palate. Real juice though - not exaggerated. Sweet and juicy and friendly even if not the most dramatic. Dry end. Will get there. As discreet and distinctive as usual. Date tasted 30th March 2010. Drink 2017-2032.

Distinctive, with atypical (for St.-Emilion) force and drive to the black currant, roasted cedar and maduro tobacco flavors, which are supported by a dense, loam-tinged structure. Terrific roasted espresso, ganache and fig paste notes wait in reserve. Very muscular, but with the cut for balance. Best from 2017 through 2035.-J.M.

There is an attractive racy freshness on the nose with a mix of bright red fruits. Bramble and black cherry take over at the start of the palate the mix of flavours giving real complexity. Towards the back the ripeness of the fruit and the rounded tannins give it a fleshy richness. Drink 2020-2050.

The high percentage of Cabernet is the key to the success of Figeac in 2009. Unlike some badly over-blown wines in St Emilion, this is poised and beautifully balanced, with the perfume of the Cabernet Franc complementing the structure of the Cabernet Sauvignon and the plush fruit of the Merlot. The wine has a delightful rigour about it. One to cellar for 15+ years.

Figeac to a T %u2013 long, fresh and distinctly Médocain in style. Fragrant, cassis-dark fruit aroma and flavour. Pure and exact, no false notes. Drink 2018-2040.

Even in this super-ripe vintage Figeac retains its usual red bell pepper aroma (from the cabernet sauvignon grape) and that adds a light touch to the opulent fruit cake and spice character. The full fine tannins beautifully support the rich palate and make the finish very long and plush. A great 2009! Drink or hold. (Horizontal Tasting, London, 2019)

The 2009 Figeac has one of the more Oriental-inspired bouquets amongst its peer group, one that is extremely well defined with scents of pressed rose petals and rolled tobacco emerging with time. The palate is medium-bodied with supple tannin. Fresh and vibrant although disappointingly, it cuts off dramatically on the finish. Maybe with time it will just broaden out a little? I hope so because otherwise this is splendid. Tasted blind at Farr Vintners’ 2009 Bordeaux tasting. 2023 - 2040

The 2009 Figeac is a wine that was so inconsistent in its youth, though miraculously since 2013 it has developed into a gorgeous Saint-Émilion, a "late flowerer" so to speak. Here it has a wonderful bouquet with blackberry, gravel, tobacco and a little more glycerine than previous bottles. The palate is medium-bodied with saturated ripe tannin, a bewitching marriage of Merlot and Cabernet Franc/Sauvignon with an unusually plush and velvety smooth finish. It should give three decades, maybe four decades of unadulterated drinking pleasure. Tasted at Christies' Figeac dinner with Marie-France Manoncourt. 2019 - 2033

Tasted at the Château Figeac vertical at the property and two or three times over the subsequent 12 months. The 2009 Figeac has shown very variably in the past, although my last encounter in 2013 was very positive. How about now? The 2009 seems to have closed down a little since I last tasted it: gravelly and smoky, what you might describe as austere for the vintage. Stylistically it is actually similar to the 2008 Figeac with an appealing savory entry, grainy tannin, a pinch of black pepper and a slightly clipped, but focused finish. This is one of the few Right Bank wines whereby the terroir is more expressive than the growing season, so it will appeal to those that appreciate the style of Figeac, though not necessarily to those that prefer the voluptuousness of the 2009s. Additionally, comparing it directly to the 2010, I suspect that it might not have quite as much longevity as the succeeding vintage. That said, this is still a knockout Saint Emilion that is going to bestow a lot of drinking pleasure over the years. Drink: 2018 - 2035

Served blind at the Southwold 2009 tasting. This is probably one of those most controversial scores. After a topsy-turvy showing in barrel followed by an enervated display just after bottling, under single blind conditions this bottle verifies one of my showings in barrel. There is some lovely Cabernet Franc on the nose here: bay leaf and hints of burnt toast infusing the ripe black fruits. This has real character and charm. The palate is medium-bodied with firm, grainy tannins. This is nicely balanced: fresh and very composed on the finish with savoury hints beginning to emerge. Classy. Could this be a wine that you have to treat on a bottle-by-bottle basis? Tasted January 2013.

Really fabulous on the nose, with sweet milk chocolate, flowers, currant and plum. Full-bodied, with incredible length. The tannins are so silky, but they are warm and cuddly. You just want to hug it. Powerful but so attractive.The blend is one third each of Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon.

The medium garnet colored 2009 Figeac features a very pretty perfume of rose hip tea, lilacs and cinnamon stick over a core of red and black currant preserves plus hints of dried herbs and sweaty saddles. Medium to full-bodied, the palate delivers bags of savory fruit layers with plenty of floral sparks, framed by rounded tannins, finishing on a earthy note. 2020 - 2040