Figeac 2011

The freshness on the nose is backed by some sweeter richer flavours. Red fruits seem to dominate but behind there is black fruited power and this combined with rounded tannins gives richness and depth on the finish.

The least Merlot-led of the top St Emilions, this is correspondingly firm and structured in 2011. It's dense and quite chewy with notes of graphite and black plums and fairly backward, dry tannins. My feeling is that the wine could do with a little more fruit sweetness, but this may emerge as the tannins soften in barrel. 10+ years.

Subtle and understated. Remains within the bounds of the vintage. Medium-bodied and fresh. Elegant but will be too lean for some. Drink 2018-2028.

Tasted in Bordeaux from an ex-château bottle, the 2011 Figeac has a healthy deep garnet hue. The nose is quite vibrant and well defined with blackberry, briary and a touch of graphite, though not as much as I remember showing out of barrel. The palate is medium-bodied with supple tannin, crisp in the mouth with a fine line of acidity. This actually surpasses my expectations. It has a natural sensibility, offering attractive blackberry and cranberry fruit, a sprig of mint, with a breezy, unpretentious finish that suits this down to the ground. You could almost broach this now, unusual for Figeac,, but suffice to say it will offer a decade's worth of drinking pleasure, possibly more. Drink: 2016 - 2030

An equal blend of Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon picked from 6th September until the 27th September. It offers the estate's typical Left Bank, leafy bouquet with touches of pencil lead inflecting the broody dark fruit. The palate is medium-bodied with firm, rigid tannins on the entry. It is a little disjointed but the Cabernet appears to be ripe although the finish is a little austere and needs to develop more expressive Merlot. Maybe it will improve with bottle age? Tasted April 2012.