Château Figeac 2023 — Professional Reviews & Ratings
Major critic scores (2023 vintage)
Château Figeac 2023 is one of the highest-rated wines of Bordeaux’s 2023 vintage, consistently placed in the top tier of Right Bank wines.
- Antonio Galloni (Vinous): 100 points
- William Kelley (Wine Advocate): 96–98 points
- James Suckling: 97–98 points
- Jane Anson: 98 points
- Jeb Dunnuck: 94–97 points
- Decanter: 98 points
- Falstaff: 97 points
- Jeff Leve: 97–99 points
- Yves Beck: 98–100 points
- Neal Martin (Vinous): 96–98 points
Consensus quality level (professional view)
Across critics, the 2023 Château Figeac is described as:
- One of the wines of the vintage (Right Bank benchmark level)
- Typically scoring 97–100 points range across top reviewers
- Considered potentially approaching or achieving perfect-score territory in some reviews
Common tasting profile described by critics
Despite stylistic variations in wording, professional notes converge strongly:
Aromatics
- Blackcurrant, blackberry, cassis
- Violet, rose, floral lift
- Graphite, pencil shavings, tobacco leaf
Palate structure
- Medium to full-bodied but highly precise
- Very fine-grained tannins
- Bright acidity / “Atlantic freshness” character
- Strong mineral backbone (saline, stony notes)
Finish & aging
- Long, tense, and linear finish
- High aging potential (often 20–40+ years potential cited in trade notes)
Overall professional consensus
- Quality tier: First Growth / near-legendary level in 2023
- Style: Elegant, Cabernet-driven Right Bank expression with freshness rather than power
- Critical standing: Frequently placed alongside the very top wines of Bordeaux 2023 (including Cheval Blanc and Ausone in some rankings)
James Suckling 99 Points
Deep nose with graphite, gravel, dark hazelnut chocolate, blackberries, blueberries and truffles. Really taut and tense on the palate with fresh, vibrating tannins and a very long, chalky finish. Compact. 35% merlot, 34% cabernet franc and 31% cabernet sauvignon. Lots of vibrancy and muscled tension here from an extremely hot and dry year. Drink from 2029 when the wood spices get more integrated.
Wine Enthusiast 99 Points
98-100 Barrel sample. This wine, with its 65% of the two Cabernets, is dense and ripe, with great acidity and freshness. It is a beautifully textured and rich wine. The wine's concentration is impressive.
Wine Maniacs 98 Points
Almost like munching a lot of freshly picked blueberries, combined with spiciness and graphite note. The wine is juicy yet complex. Firm mid-palate with highly refined tannins. Precise, refreshing, seductive. Highly perfumed: violet in both colour and taste. Very long lasting. This was the earliest harvest for the family since 130 years ago. Note that this is their first vintage after classification to 1er GCC A.
Tasting Notes
"A blend of 35% Merlot, 34% Cabernet Franc and 31% Cabernet Sauvignon, the 2022 Figeac is a brilliant wine with which to celebrate this property's elevation to Premier Grand Cru Classé "A" status. Wafting from the glass with aromas of raspberries and cassis mingled with notions of iris, forest floor, cigar wrapper and pencil lead, it's medium to full-bodied, pure and perfumed, with a deep and multidimensional core of fruit, bright acids and beautifully refined tannins. Serious yet civilized, it's the quintessential Figeac, testament to the late Thierry Manoncourt's vision to plant such a large proportion of Cabernet, and on drought-resistant rootstocks. Such is the inherent complexity of Figeac's terroirs that harvest took place sub-block by sub-block between September 1st and 25th. Congratulations are in order for the Manoncourt family, director Frédéric Faye, consulting winemaker Thomas Duclos and all their team." - William Kelley, The Wine Advocate, (05/02/2023), Ratings: 98-100
