The 2022 Figeac Bordeaux Blend from Saint Emilion, France, is a highly acclaimed red wine that has garnered exceptional reviews from several prominent wine critics. This vintage is noteworthy as Figeac's first as a Premier Grand Cru Classé “A,” an elevation that is well celebrated by the wine’s outstanding qualities.
Jeff Leve from TheWineCellarInsider.com awards Figeac a perfect score, describing it as “sensuous, sultry, and lively” with a “seamless finish” that extends well past 60 seconds. He highlights the wine’s blend of 35% Merlot, 34% Cabernet Franc, and 31% Cabernet Sauvignon, noting its unprecedented early harvest and low yield of 34 hectoliters per hectare.
Robert Parker's Wine Advocate also rates this wine 100 points, with William Kelley commending the “deep and multidimensional core of fruit” and “beautifully refined tannins,” attributing these qualities to the late Thierry Manoncourt’s strategic vineyard plantings.
Similarly, Decanter’s review praises Figeac for its “confidence and charm,” calling it “the wine of the vintage” and noting its “vibrant, dynamic, balanced and precise” character. Decanter highlights its “gorgeous aromatic expression” and the wine’s ability to “defy the hot and dry conditions.”
James Suckling notes the unique timing of the harvest and observes the wine’s “lovely freshness and depth,” while Jeb Dunnuck draws parallels to the 2016 vintage, predicting long-term aging potential due to its “purity and balance.”
Vinous and The Wine Independent both emphasize Figeac’s aromatic presence and mineral finish, with Antonio Galloni calling it a “towering Figeac” and highlighting the vineyard’s rare soil composition. Wine Enthusiast’s Roger Voss echoes these sentiments, focusing on the wine's impressive concentration and rich texture.
Overall, the 2022 Figeac Bordeaux Blend is celebrated for its impressive structure, aromatic complexity, and exceptional balance, marking a significant milestone for the estate.