Chateau Figeac: Wine Styles, 10 Great Bottles to Buy in 2024

One of the oldest estates of Bordeaux, Chateau Figeac produces some of the most critically acclaimed Cabernet Sauvignon wines that enjoy a devoted following.

What makes Chateau Figeac wines stand out from other Bordeaux blends? Which are the best bottles to buy in 2024?  

This article explores the legendary winery’s history, its terroir, winemaking techniques, and exceptional Chateau Figeac wines to invest in 2024. 

Plus, we’ll take a look at how you can invest in Chateau Figeac wines with ease.

A Quick Intro Of The Iconic Chateau Figeac

The Chateau Figeac winery is located northwest of the Saint Emilion appellation on the right bank of Bordeaux in France. 

Figeac wines are ranked St-Emilion Grand Cru Classé B - a perfect ambassador of the gorgeous right bank Bordeaux wines. 

The Chateau grows signature French grape varieties Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, and Merlot. 

The wine estate produces two gorgeous wines from its 54 hectares sandy gravel vineyard 

• The Grand Vin - Château Figeac 
• Petit Figeac (the estate’s second wine)

The Figeac estate has been under constant occupation since the 2nd century, starting with the Figeacus family,who built a Gallo Roman villa here 2,000 years ago. 

Today, the winery is owned by the Manoncourt family. 

Let’s go back in time to explore its eventful past. 

A Brief Look Into The Legendary History of Chateau Figeac

The wine estate got its name from the Figeacus family, who built the Gallo Roman villa in the 2nd century. You’ll see the water supply system of the Gallo-Roman times in the estate even today.

However, the foundation of the Chateau was laid down much later in 1586 by Raymond de Cazes. The Chateau remained with the Cazes family for five decades until the 18th century and covered a massive 200 hectares.

But during the economic crises of the continental blockade, a part of the estate was sold off. Some of its portions became a part of prestigious Pomerol estates, including the famous Chateau Cheval Blanc.Since 1838, the original Figeac estate has had seven different owners.

In 1946, the estate was inherited by Thierry Manoncourt. He renovated the Chateau, expanded the cellars, and improved the quality of wines. He was also assisted by his daughter and son-in-law Eric d'Aramon.

Thierry and his wife Marie-France (Madame Manoncourt) jointly managed the estate until Thierry’s death in 2010. 

Today, Madame Manoncourt and her daughters handle the family estate. 

The Manoncourt family hired consultants like Jean-Valmy Nicolas, Frederic Faye (who replaced Eric d’Aramon, the estate’s director), and Michael Rolland to revitalize the quality of the wine.

The Terroir Of The Chateau Figeac Estate

The 54 hectare gravelly vineyard of Chateau Figeac lies to the northwest of the Saint Emilion appellation in Graves near the Pomerol border - one of the few great terroirs in Saint Emilion. 

The rich quartz and flint soils are planted with three primary grape varietals - Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, and Merlot. However, a quarter of the land is left unplanted with vine to preserve the natural balance. 

Figeac owns three out of the five gravel hillsides of Graves. It provides natural drainage, and its southern exposure allows each vine to receive maximum sunlight.

This gravelly soil of the Figeac terroir also accounts for the higher than usual proportion of flavorful Cabernet Sauvignon wines for a right bank estate.Let’s look at their winemaking process in detail. 

Winemaking Techniques At Château Figeac

The blend for each Chateau Figeac vintage depends on the character of the grape variety of the vintage. Here are some of their standard winemaking practices:

• The fruit of each parcel is fermented separately in 20 large, temperature-controlled stainless steel tanks and large open-top wooden vats.
• While alcoholic fermentation occurs in wooden vats, malolactic fermentation occurs in stainless steel tanks.
• The wine is then aged for 14 to 18 months in new French oak barrels. 
• After barrel aging in new oak, the wine is aged for at least 10 years in a bottle. 

This brings the best out of the Figeac red wines and makes them highly sought after by every wine enthusiast.

The First and Second Wines Of Chateau Figeac 

The Chateau has two gorgeous Cabernet majority wines:

A. Château Figeac Grand Vin (First Wine)

This elegant, luscious first wine is a Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Merlot blend. 

It is fermented in steel vats and wooden barrels and aged for 18-20 months in new oak French barriques.

B. Petit Figeac (Second Wine)

Petit Figeac is the estate’s second wine made with Figeac's signature grape varieties - Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Merlot. 

This stunning wine is more approachable in its youth, unlike the Grand Vin. 

However, until 2012, the second wine of the estate was La Grange Neuve de Figeac. It made its debut in 1945 under Thierry Manoncourt, and was produced until 2011.

The La Grange Neuve de Figeacwas predominantly made from the Cabernet Franc grape variety with small quantities of Merlot, which was responsible for it’s tannic structure and rich flavors.

You can still get your hands on some of the older vintages of this wine!

It was replaced by Petit Figeac which is now the only second wine of the chateau.

How To Serve Chateau Figeac Wines

Serve your Chateau Figeac wine at 15oC (60oF) with hearty main dishes like meat, veel, duck, pork, and chicken. The Figeac wine is also light and fruity enough to compliment lighter Asian dishes, rich fish courses along with mushrooms, pasta, and gourmet cheese. 

Now let’s take a look at the gorgeous Cabernet majority wines that would be perfect for your cellar.

Exceptional Chateau Figeac Wines to Buy in 2024 (Including Tasting Notes, Prices)

Here are some of the best Figeac wines you shouldn’t miss - ranging from youthful recent vintages to fine older vintages.

1. 1946 Château Figeac, Saint-Emilion Grand Cru, France 

This Premiere Grand Cru Classe B wine is a beautiful Bordeaux blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Cab Franc, and Merlot. The elegant and structured wine has ample tannin and notes of creme cassis, tobacco, and cedar and can be cellared for a long time.

Price of 1946 Château Figeac, Saint-Emilion Grand Cru, France: $1,115

2. 1961 Chateau Figeac, Saint-Emilion Grand Cru, France

This full-bodied Cabernet and Merlot blend has a lively aroma of prune, smoke, cedar, and tobacco with a crisp tasting note of black fruit and creme cassis. 

With a score of 95 by Robert Parker, this great wine makes for a fine drinking experience.

Price of 1961 Château Figeac, Saint-Emilion Grand Cru, France: $843

3. 1947 Chateau Figeac, Saint-Emilion Grand Cru, France 

The 1947 vintage is a harmonizing blend of the grape varieties Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, and Merlot. The vintage received an impressive score of 94 from the Wine Spectator. 

The wine has oak, tobacco, and vanilla notes - perfect to pair with beef and poultry.

Price of 1947 Chateau Figeac, Saint-Emilion Grand Cru, France: $760

4. 1949 Château Figeac, Saint-Emilion Grand Cru, France 

The 1949 vintage is a classic Figeac Cab Franc blend that received a perfect 100 from Jeff Leve. James Suckling’s Wine Spectator called it the greatest Figeac ever made.

This Figeac wine has a brilliant ruby color with tasting notes of cassis, red currant, minerals, and black fruit. The palate of this vintage has smooth and supple tannin with a bewitching finish. 

Price of 1949 Château Figeac, Saint-Emilion Grand Cru, France: $750

5. 1939 Château Figeac Saint-Emilion Grand Cru, France 

This Premier Grand Cru Bordeaux wine is a great wine with a deep burgundy color and supple tannin. It has an elegant and mature structure with a tasting note of rich cassis, blackfruit, and red currant. 

Price of 1939 Château Figeac Saint-Emilion Grand Cru, France: $569

6. 1966 Château Figeac, Saint-Emilion Grand Cru, France 

This 1966 vintage is a classic Bordeaux blend with earthy and oaky tasting notes. The filigree tannin makes the palate light and delicate, which completely envelops the senses. 

This red wine pairs well with both hearty meat dishes and lighter Asian dishes. 

The drinking window for this gorgeous wine is from 2017 to 2030. 

Price of 1966 Château Figeac, Saint Emilion Grand Cru, France: $447

7. 1982 Château Figeac, Saint-Emilion Grand Cru, France

This First Growth B vintage is an elegant and mature Bordeaux wine. It has lovely floral aromas and distinct notes of blueberries and plums on the palate that makes for a delicious tasting experience. 

Price of 1982 Château Figeac, Saint Emilion Grand Cru, France: $382

8. 2011 Château Petit-Figeac, Saint-Emilion, France

This beautiful burgundy-colored Bordeaux blend has lovely floral aromas with hints of blueberry and black raspberry. It has supple tannin and profound tasting notes of plum and cherry. 

This Figeac wine pairs exceptionally well with lasagna, pasta, and artisanal cheese.

Price of 2011 Château Petit-Figeac, St. Emilion, France: $113

9. 1990 Château Figeac La Grange Neuve de Figeac, Saint-Emilion, France

The 1990 La Grange Neuve de Figeac vintage is a solid and smokey Bordeaux blend. This red wine has a copious aroma of tobacco, black cherry, and plums with a smooth and lingering finish. 

Price of 1990 Château Figeac La Grange Neuve de Figeac, Saint Emilion, France: $88

10. 2016 Château Petit-Figeac, Saint-Emilion, France

This deep ornate colored Figeac wine has an elegant and structured flavor profile. 

It has powerful aromas of cassis and black fruit, while the palate has earthy notes of black raspberry, forest floor, and mushrooms. 

Price of 2016 Château Petit-Figeac, Saint Emilion, France: $67

Should You Invest In Chateau Figeac Wines?

Figeac wines offer excellent aging potential and can age elegantly for 12-40 years.

The recent vintages of Château Figeac, like 2019, 2018, 2015, 2005, 2010, 2009, have enjoyed great critical acclaim. The 2016 vintage got a near-perfect 99 by Jeff Leve, while the 2018 vintage got an impressive 98 from The Wine Enthusiast. 

This is one of the reasons behind the steady price growth of these wines:

• The 2010 Château Figeac climbed up by 29% from $269 to $348 during 2020 to 2021.
• The price for a 12 bottle case of the 2015 Figeac vintage grew by 39% to $2,600 during the same period.

With the 2020 Bordeaux En Primeur, wine buyers got to see the first look of the 2020 vintage from the Chateau. It was considered a promising investment among critics and industry experts. 

Given Figeac’s phenomenal vintages coupled with the continued investments being made at the vineyard - we can safely say that this estate is knocking on the door of Premier Cru Classe A status. 

The next review of the St Emilion Classification in 2022 might have Chateau Figeac joining the ranks of Premier Cru Classe A chateaux like Chateau Angelus, Chateau Ausone, Château Cheval Blanc, and Château Pavie.

So, what’s the easiest way to add a bottle of Chateau Figeac to your wine collection?

The smartest way to invest in Figeac wines or other Saint Emilion Grand Cru wines is through a trustedonline wine investment company like Vinovest.

Invest In Chateau Figeac and Other Wines Through Vinovest

Vinovestis an AI-based platform that helps you buy, sell, authenticate, and store investment-grade wines online from St Emilion, Medoc, Provence, or anywhere else in the world, with just a few clicks. 

How Does It Work?

Get started by following these four simple steps:

1. Create an account by signing up on the Vinovest website
2. Answer a short questionnaire to determine your investing style
3. Add a minimum of $1,000 to your Vinovest account
4. Enjoy a Saint Emilion Grand Cru wine and watch your wine portfolio grow as you sip a cuppa!

Benefits Of Vinovest

Take a look at some significant advantages you get while investing through Vinovest.

1. Easy Buying and Selling using AI-driven technology

With Vinovest’s Artificial Intelligence-based platform, you can buy and sell any bottle of wine with just a few simple clicks of your mouse.

2. Optimal storage and safety

Vinovest stores your wine in bonded warehouses, which maintains optimal temperature, light, vibration, and humidity levels. So you get access to world-class cellars without having to maintain one yourself. 

3. Best Prices

Because Vinovest gets its wines directly from global winemakers, wine merchants, and wine exchanges, you get to enjoy wholesale prices on all your favorite wines. 

4. Curated Portfolio By Wine Experts 

Vinovest’s Master Sommeliers are wine experts, who mitigate risk by analyzing your goals and risk appetite. 

The result? A portfolio of expertly selected wines that fit your individual taste.

5. Authenticity And Provenance

Vinovest will trace the authenticity and provenance of every single bottle of wine that you invest in.

6. Deep Network

Vinovest gives you access to an extensive network of brilliant winemakers, vineyards, and limited vintage releases. 

You’ll also get invited to exclusive wine tasting events of renowned vineyards and winemakers.

7. Low Overall Costs

With a fixed low annual fee of 2.5% (1.9% for a portfolio above $50,000), Vinovest covers all the costs associated with buying, selling, storing wines, fraud detection, and wine portfolio management. 

Also, the bonded warehouse facilities do not levy excise duty or VAT, allowing Vinovest to pass on significant tax advantages to you.‍ 

8. Easy delivery

If you want to try out the exotic Bordeaux wine you just bought, or you’ve found a buyer for your bottle of fine wine, Vinovest’s got you covered with its hassle-free delivery. 

A Rich Cabernet Sauvignon Figeac For Your Cellar!

The wines of Château-Figeac are elegant and full of character, which makes for a fantastic drinking experience. With its rich legacy and aging potential, Figeac wines are also the perfect addition to any wine collection.

If you’re looking for a way to add a prestigious Figeac to your cellar, Vinovest is your best bet! Sign upwith Vinovest and start your own collection of investment-grade wines from all across the globe.