2011 Château Figeac, St Emilion, Bordeaux

35% Cabernet Sauvignon, 35% Cabernet Franc, 30% Merlot. Winter was cold and dried up until the second half of March. The sudden temperature rise triggered an early budburst on 26 March. April was almost summer-like. The months of May and June were marked by a significant deficit of rainfall requiring appropriate working of the soil, according to the principle that ‘a good ploughing is worth two good waterings’. Canopy management was also carried out. These actions greatly benefited the vineyard and prevented the vines from severe water deficits. In this way, they generally resisted the heat peaks in late June. The Cabernets Franc and Sauvignon had a homogeneous veraison; the Merlot was a little longer due to the lack of water. The second half of July was cool and rainy, considerably slowing the ripening process. Thinning work was more significant and meticulous than in previous years. The work done in the vines throughout the season, particularly the vine canopy work to sort bunches and to equalise ripeness, was immense. This, however, enabled the estate to obtain perfectly healthy vines and, with the help of September weather, to wait for optimal ripeness in the grapes. Harvest 6–27 September.Mid garnet. Very evolved, charming and confident on the nose. Fresh and lively with real zing and lift. Gorgeous actually. Just the sort of aerienne character that distinguishes red Bordeaux. A real savoury/salty character. Refined. Lovely texture.Drink 2019 - 2037jancis_robinson_mw MW, JancisRobinson.com (September 2019)

A pretty traditional style. A broad spectrum of red and black berries underlines a slew of dried herb and spice aromas. Taut and firm, medium body with a serious tannin structure that’s just about fully resolved. Long, elegant finish with a chalky texture. Drink or hold. Château Quintus vertical tasting.Drink nowjames_suckling, jamessuckling_com (June 2022)

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

Tasted in Bordeaux from an ex-chteau 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. Tasted July 2016.Neil Martin - 31/08/2016

A reticent, muscular style, with lots of macerated dark currant and plum notes and ample briary grip cutting through on the finish. This has depth and heft and needs some time to stretch out fully. Wine Spectator's 2011 Top-Scoring Red Bordeaux james_molesworth, Wine Spectator, April 5, 2012

The 2011 Figeac was quite sullen and unexpressive in its youth, and I dished out some parsimonious scores. Yet, two recent bottles have prompted me to raise my opinion on this vintage. It has an intense bouquet with blackberry, raspberry, and rose petals and a touch of marmalade.These are aromas with ambition! The palate is well balanced with fine tannins, a fantastic body, and very focused and serious in style. This is a 2011 with plans on repaying those with the nous to cellar it for a few years. Very classy, this is well made. Tasted blind at the annual 10-Year-On tasting.Drink 2022 - 2038Neil Martin, Vinous.com.com (April 2022)

The pronounced notes of truffles, graphite and spices suggest a wine that has attained its apogee. After aeration, black fruit, including ripe plum, comes to the fore, along with spices and a touch of tobacco and meat.The palate is at first surprisingly creamy in the context of the 2011 vintage, but the powerfully tannic framework asserts itself on the long finish. Although very expressive of its terroir, this is such a singularly styled Figeac that it might be challenging to identify it as such in a blind tasting.Drink 2022 - 2035Yohan Castaing, Decanter.com (September 2021)