Le Grange Neuve De Figeac 1997 (Second wine of Chateau Figeac)
Le Grange Neuve De Figeac 1997 (Second wine of Chateau Figeac)
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Château Figeac is a highly rated and well regarded wine estate in the Saint-Émilion appellation of Bordeaux, on the so-called right bank of the Dordogne river in the northeast of the region. Figeac's eponymous flagship wine (or "grand vin" as is often called) is known for its rich nose, silky texture and elegance, and for its aging potential in better vintages.
Figeac was rated as Premier Grand Cru Classé (B) in the 1955 Saint-Émilion Classification – a status it retained through every subsequent iteration of the classification until 2022, when it was promoted to Premier Grand Cru Classé (A). The wine is widely considered to have markedly improved since World War II under the ownership of Thierry Manoncourt, becoming one of the most sought-after Right Bank Bordeaux reds.
History of Figeac
There has been an estate on the site since Roman times, although viticulture only grew significantly following the middle ages. By the 18th Century the vineyard was much larger until sections were sold off in the 19th Century, including those that expanded Cheval Blanc in 1832.
Numerous properties attest to this dispersal with a number of neighboring châteaux containing an appended "Figeac" to their titles, including the likes of Yon Figeac and La Tour du Pin Figeac.
Vineyard and grape varieties
The current Château Figeac vineyard is, nevertheless, among the largest in Saint-Émilion at 40 hectares (99 acres) and the estate covers a total of 54 hectares (133 acres). There are three gravel outcrops, which explains the unusually high percentage of Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc in a typical bottle of Figeac.
They each account for around 35 percent of the blend. Merlot, usually dominant in this region, accounts for the remaining 30 percent.
Second wine
In 1945, Château Figeac was one of the first Bordeaux estates to introduce a second wine, La Grange Neuve de Figeac, named after a particular plot in the estate. Since 2012, however, the second wine has been Petit-Figeac, made from various selections of vines across the wider estate.
Winemaking
The grapes are vinified in a variety of small vessels, either conical, open-topped wooden vats or stainless steel tanks. Each corresponds to specific lots in the vineyard.
The grand vin is aged in 100-percent new oak barrels, while Petit-Figeac is typically aged is for 15 to 18 months in oak barrels, 20 percent of which are new. Approximately 100,000 bottles of the grand vin are produced annually, with about 40,000 of Petit Figeac.
Management of the estate is overseen by Thierry Manoncourt's daughters Blandine de Brier.
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