An age-old terroir
Figeac is a mythical wine. What more can I say than the 78 words that Pierre Desproges used to magnify Cru 71 of Saint Emilion’s premier grand cru? Perhaps, the fact that it’s an ongoing task and that man’s memory must be constantly renewed by the intensity of the senses that this wine provides.
As soon as you enter the château, you are greeted by the timeless elegance of its architecture, testimony to ancestral know-how handed down from generation to generation.
I’ve always found the name Figeac in the middle of the Saint Emilion terroir curious. Indeed, the story goes back to the origins of vine-growing in Aquitaine. It goes back more than a thousand years, as the Gallo-Roman Figeacus family (who gave their name to the town of Figeac) owned a villa on the site of today’s château in the second century. The history of this villa follows in the footsteps of Gallo-Roman villas. They were perennial in the Roman Empire (several centuries in a row) until the late Middle Ages.
The Gallo-Romans made no mistake when it came to terroir. Villas were built on the best land. The Manoncourt family has owned the château since 1892. Thierry Manoncourt vinified the wine in 1943 and bottled it in 1945. It was he who modernized the estate and adapted the grape varieties to the terroir with finesse and foresight. Cabernets in particular (35% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Cabernet Franc). Thierry de Manoncourt’s approach to terroir and grape varieties is particularly appropriate. He harmonized vine and soil to a high level of perfection.
The château became Premier Grand Cru classé “A” in 2022.
The visit was organized by Gwennaelle Brieu, the wine tourism manager, a passionate and expert who took us on a fascinating tour of the vineyards and winemaking facilities. We discovered the secrets of viticulture and the environmentally-friendly approach, where nature becomes a precious auxiliary and partner in the creation of exceptional wines.
The tasting that followed the visit was an unforgettable sensory experience. You are invited to take your seat in an elegantly decorated room, where the warm hues of wood and flashes of light dance together to create an enchanting atmosphere. Before you, a carefully chosen selection of Château Figeac wines awaits exploration.
Your glass fills with a ruby-red nectar, whose bewitching aromas transport you on a captivating taste journey. Each sip reveals complex layers of flavor, blending notes of ripe fruit, delicate spice and rich, ancient earth, capturing the very essence of Saint-Émilion’s unique terroir.
As you taste, you’re transported by the passion and dedication behind each bottle, a tribute to the art of blending and meticulous attention to detail. Each wine tells a story, a chapter in the winegrowing heritage of this legendary estate.
At the end of this unforgettable experience, I left Château Figeac with my heart full of precious memories and my palate imbued with the exquisite taste of its wines. You take with you much more than a tasting in a legendary place: you take with you a part of the history and magic that make this place a must-see destination for wine lovers the world over.
