2000 Chateau Figeac
By Chateau Figeac
2000 Château Figeac from Château Figeac, Saint-Émilion, Bordeaux
As the new millennium dawned two decades ago, the venerable estate of Château Figeac presented the world with a wine that has matured into a paragon of Saint-Émilion magnificence. The unique composition of its terroir, favouring a higher proportion of Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc over Merlot, has always been instrumental in defining its distinctive character. Nonetheless, it is the singular climatic temperament of 2000 that elevated the wine from Château Figeac to a level that entices fine wine investors and connoisseurs alike.
A Vintage Defined by Time and Terroir
The year 2000, much lauded for its benevolence across Bordeaux, was especially kind to Château Figeac. This was a vintage where everything in the vineyard seemed to align with cosmic precision, resulting in grapes that achieved optimal ripeness with ease. The wine from Château Figeac, now at its peak or perhaps gently edging towards a stately plateau, reveals a bouquet resplendent with cassis, truffle, and tobacco leaf nuances - majestic aromas that leap from the glass to signal the profound complexity within.
Investment-Worthy Elegance
On the palate, there emerges a symphony of beautifully integrated tannins and artfully restrained oak that has evolved over time into something ethereal. It's not just the structure or the lingering finish that captivates; it's the seamless evolution of flavours - from dark berry fruits to hints of espresso and spice - that asserts the 2000 wine from Château Figeac as one of Saint-Émilion's most illustrious offerings and hence, a compelling addition to any serious fine wine portfolio.
In summary, the turn-of-the-century masterpiece from Château Figeac stands as an emblematic figure in Bordeaux’s vinous landscape. Not just enduring but thriving through two decades, its tastes reveal how time has been this wine's greatest collaborator. As both an investment vessel and an object of sensory pleasure, this vintage continues to enchant those lucky enough to experience its gracefully unfolding narrative.
Market price (HKD)
HK$28,100.00
12x75cl
Highest score
91
POP score
267.27
Scores and tasting notes
Tasted at the Château Figeac vertical at the property. It is some years since I last tasted the 2000 Figeac. There is a valid argument that it is being eclipsed by the 2001, but it is still a fine Saint Emilion. The nose is clean and fresh with strong graphite aromas, very Left Bank in style with black truffle and smoky notes developing. The palate is masculine and rather austere at first, though I notice that it gains fleshiness in the glass. It is nicely weighted, but does not quite deliver the sensuality or joie-de-vivre of the 2001 (which is actually like a lot of millennial Bordeaux). Let's see how it matures over the next few years, but my money would be on the 2001. Tasted June 2015.
Neal Martin - The Wine Advocate, 30 August 2016