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.

The 2012 Figeac is medium to deep garnet colored. It opens with notions of warm cassis, stewed plums, and new leather, leading to hints of pencil shavings, tobacco, and truffles with a medicinal waft. The medium-bodied palate is taut and muscular, with firm, grainy tannins and tightly wound black fruit layers, finishing earthy.

The 2012 Figeac is really beginning to come into its own and entering a sweet spot. This is the best I've had. Now more open on the nose, it has a wonderful bouquet with black fruit, cedar and blood orange, perhaps still with a patina of new oak to be fully assimilated. The palate is very pure and well-defined, linear and "strict" in a Médoc manner, whereas previous bottles have more of a peacock's tail. This just makes it more enticing. Tasted at the private room at Noble Rot Soho. -- Neal Martin

2012 had mixed results across the region, slightly favouring the right bank over the left. This is an attractive wine with precise flavours, although not huge depth compared to the best vintages of Figeac. The precision pays off, however, and its slight austerity opens up well in the glass to reveal floral aromatics of violet and rose, and its soft liquorice, autumnal fruits and graphite notes are highly appealing. 40% Merlot, 40% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Cabernet Franc. Read more at http://www.decanter.com/wine-reviews/france/bordeaux/chateau-figeac-st-emilion-1er-grand-cru-classe-b-2012-14113#cyrRjCWgY6klTWfw.99

Deep, savory nose with plenty of blackberry fruit, plus notes of bitter chocolate and roasted meat. At once ripe and generous, but also lively and pleasantly dry, thanks to the moderate amount of fine tannin, this has more elegance and complexity at the finish than many wines of the vintage. Drink or hold. Château Quintus vertical tasting. SP.

Far more open than the 2011, with generous blackberry puree and peony floral notes. A little less effortless finesse and balance than years like 2005 or 2010, but this has juice and character, and is a highly successful Figeac. As it opens, you see that the tannins retain some austerity and resistance in them at this point. First year where the blend begins to change, become more reactive to the indiividual vintage - and first year where Frederic Faye took over as director. Michel Rolland arrived as consultant in March 2013, so part of the blending team (and there was also an optical sorting machine for the first time). 100% new oak for ageing, 40hl/h yield, harvest September 20 to October 13.

The first vintage blended with Michel Rolland shows licorice, stone, fresh dark berries, cigar box and a hint of oak, with a sweet, dark chocolate, round plum character. Read more at:https://www.thewinecellarinsider.com/search-wine-tasting-notes/?szSearch=2012%20Ch%C3%A2teau%20Figeac

Tasted blind at the Southwold Bordeaux tasting. The 2012 Figeac put in a marvelous showing under strict blind conditions and it has clearly blossomed in bottle. It has an immediately engaging bouquet with vivid blackberry and raspberry fruit, wonderful mineralité and fine delineation. This is very composed, with a touch of graphite that almost takes you towards Pauillac rather than Saint Emilion. The palate is medium-bodied with fine tannin, well-judged acidity, harmonious and lively with commendable precision towards the finish. This is a sophisticated and well-crafted Figeac that appears to be on an upward trajectory. Tasted January 2016. - Neal Martin

(NM90-92 points) Michel Rolland made the blend of the 2012: 40% Merlot, 20% Cabernet Franc and 40% Cabernet Sauvignon (the 2010 was one-third of each grape variety.) It has a dark purple colour. The nose is bashful at first, well defined with expressive Cabernet Sauvignon imparting subtle cedar and mint aromas. The palate is medium-bodied with an edge entry defined by slightly chalky tannins. There is a touch for Schezhuan pepper at the tip of the tongue and to be honest, it is missing a little weight on the mid-palate due to the growing season. It has a little more harmony on the finish than previous year, maintaining the fresh Figeac style, but with more composure. Bodes well for the future.