Bordeaux Collector Wines

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A step up over the 2014, the 2012 Château Figeac is a big, opulent, authoritative Figeac loaded with ripe black fruits (blackberries, currants), smoked earth, roasted herbs, and truffle aromas and flavors. Rich, powerful, concentrated, and tannic, it’s a blockbuster that has 2+ decades of prime drinking ahead of it. The 2012s can still be found in the market and are smart buys.Jeb Dunnuck | 95 JD(Château Figeac) Whatever eventually happens at Château Figeac, at least we have the stunning and utterly classic 2012 to latch onto for our cellars! This is a superb example of the vintage that fully demonstrates that the vintage was every bit as fine in St. Émilion as it was in Pomerol, and those who missed in the former commune did so due to their own methodology, rather than any inherent limitations in the vintage. The 2012 Figeac is comprised of a blend of forty percent each merlot and cabernet sauvignon (those who would rip out the cabernet sauvignon here are simply out of their minds- and there are dozens of folks in Bordeaux that would immediately do so if they had control of this great estate- as this is one of the defining elements of Figeac that sets it apart and above from its neighbors!) and twenty percent cabernet franc. As has been the case since the 1970 vintage, the wine was raised in one hundred percent new wood. The bouquet is deep, complex, pure and utterly classic, jumping from the glass in a refined mix of black cherries, dark berries, Cuban cigars, a lovely base of gravelly soil tones, a touch of violet and a very well done base of new wood. On the palate the wine is deep, full-bodied, pure and beautifully structured, with a rock solid core, good acidity, refined, suave tannins (predominantly from the cabernet sauvignon one would expect) and excellent length and grip on the focused and superb finish. If this is the swan song for classic Figeac, it is one hell of a wine to go out with! (Drink between 2022-2055).John Gilman | 94 JGGreat aromatics on display here and this is rich and powerful with lovely black spice complexity. The mid-palate is chock full of gourmet edges, with raspberry coulis and mellow blackberry fruits. This wine can be drunk now but will also age. It’s starting to get into its stride at this point. Harvest technically lasted from 20 September to 13 October but took place almost entirely in October to benefit from the warm and dry Indian summer that followed a more challenging start to the growing season. The estate used 100% new oak barrels. Drinking Window 2019 - 2038.Decanter | 94 DECThe aromas of sweet tobacco, currants and flower undertones are beautiful. The wine is medium-to full-bodied with fine tannins and a polished and caressing finish. Delicious now. All about finesse.James Suckling | 93 JSThe 2012 Figeac is super-expressive. Dense and fleshy in the glass - yet with gorgeous aromatic lift - the 2012 is impeccable in its overall balance. Dark red plum, cherry pit, cloves, leather, sage and licorice are all laced into the inviting finish. Within the context of the year, the Figeac has a fair amount of structure, so it is best cellared for at least a few years. There is a lot to like here. Michel Rolland blended the 2012 and took over the consulting at Figeac in full beginning with the 2013 harvest.Vinous Media | 93 VMA beguiling tobacco leaf note weaves up and away from the core of steeped plum and mulled currant fruit, while a sleek iron accent forms the spine and a loamy element creates the backdrop. Shows some pleasant latent grip while the currant detail echoes. Best from 2018 through 2027. 8,330 cases made.Wine Spectator | 93 WSThis wine has weight and tannins that offer good structure, but it’s the ripe, rich fruit that dominates. It’s powerful and complex, and likely to age well.Wine Enthusiast | 93 WEThis is a very strong effort from this great terroir. They finally seem to be making stricter selections and picking slightly riper fruit, thereby avoiding the vegetal underripe tones of the past as well as dilution from a lack of any selection. The 2012 Figeac (performing much better from bottle) has a dense ruby/purple color and a beautiful nose of graphite, blackcurrants, and spice box, followed by a medium-bodied, elegant yet still concentrated and authoritative style of wine. This is a beauty, and the great terroir that has existed for centuries comes through beautifully. Give it 3-4 years of cellaring and drink it over the following 20 years.Robert Parker | 91+ RP