Château Figeac 2020

Why is this Wine so Yummy?

About Figeac

In the Vineyard

Since the Manoncourt family has been at Figeac, several agronomists and engineers have headed the estate, putting scientific questioning at the heart of their action.Observing and understanding in order to evolve and adapt to the living world, transposing techniques, experimenting, calling things into question, always in pursuit of a wine true to itself. Collaborations with researchers and academics have flourished and the estate currently funds several theses and research projects. At Château-Figeac, the research and development department is also responsible for environmental matters.

Over the last ten years, techniques used in archaeology have been applied to the study of soil resistivity. An infrared camera has been used to measure the vigour of the vines and a very revealing study of the terroir was carried out with Dijon University. Massal selection is used to preserve the wine’s distinctive character and a genetic heritage that would otherwise be lost. Vineyard pests have been monitored in collaboration with the network of Chambers of Agriculture.
The spirit of innovation sometimes encourages a return to age-old practices. One such is the use of withes, natural wicker strips to tie up vine shoots, which has led vineyard workers to rediscover and master an ancestral technique. Another is horse-drawn ploughing, which is more respectful of the soil and the vines.

The new technical facilities have enabled our work to become more precise. Science, technology and tradition have all found their place there.

In the Winery

In 2021, Château-Figeac inaugurated a new 5,000 m² semi underground winery equipped with custom made stainless steel and wooden vats. The summit of elegance, a jewel of innovation and precision designed to meet High Environmental Quality standards, it also offers visitors two light and airy tasting rooms.

Gravity-feed processes are used for vinification and maturing, showing infinite respect for the wine. The harvest is brought in on the ground floor, where the vat-house is located; the wines are then gradually moved under the hill to mature in barrels.

Eight custom-made FSC-certified French oak vats placed in a circle form the beating heart of the semi underground vat house, complemented by 40 truncated cone, stainless steel vats designed for plot and intra plot vinifications. In keeping with the scientific mindset that guides the estate, a specific vat room is set aside for research and development.

The two large underground barrel halls are a haven of serenity in which to mature our wines. Offering peace and quiet, space, thermal inertia and the absence of vibration, the earth which has nourished the vines also protects the wine.

The nearby cellar which houses older vintages is a tribute to Thierry Manoncourt and to Château-Figeac’s exceptional terroir.

In the two light and airy tasting rooms looking out on the vat-house and vineyard, in the great Music Room and the Fireplace Room, Château-Figeac receives its guests with the warmth that means so much to the family. Authenticity and elegance are the keynotes, together with noble yet unostentatious materials, attention to detail – and the sharing of emotions.

The 2020 Vintage at Figeac

A precocious vintage from start to finish
After a remarkably rainy autumn, the winter months were warm and dry. Mild temperatures continued throughout a wet spring which replenished the water reserves necessary for the vines during the summer months. These conditions were conducive to early budding and shooting in the vines, which elevated the danger posed by frost on a number of nights— but all damage was avoided thanks to the expert management by the team. Bud-break took place between March 15th and 21st, some two weeks ahead of normal schedule.

Subsequent cool, rainy spells in April and May increased fungal disease pressure. Constant work by our vineyard team to ward off the threat maintained the vineyard in perfect health without departing from our environmental commitments.
Flowering took place in optimal conditions in hot, dry weather around May 14th, two weeks ahead of the ten-year average, making 2020 one of the most precocious vine cycles on record.
Despite cooler temperatures in June, the vines maintained their pace, and the veraison process began in mid-July during very hot weather and drought conditions.

A heatwave without water-deficit stress: making strategic choices
The summer was hot and several heatwaves; highs reached over 40°C on August 7th.
Over 54 days, between June 19th and August 11th, only 6.5mm (a quarter of an inch) of rain was recorded. Good canopy management choices (a light de-leafing, superficial ploughing, and green harvesting adapted to the potential of each individual vine) enabled each plot to advance comfortably through its own vegetative cycle.
By the beginning of August, all the bunches had undergone véraison. Despite bouts of sweltering heat, the vines did not show any obvious signs of water stress. The vines’ deep root systems ensured a constant supply of water, which allowed the grapes to continue ripening uninterrupted.

Freshness and aromatic expression
The ripening process in August took place in ideal weather conditions: high temperatures, long periods of sunshine and cooler nights than in July. This sped up the accumulation of sugars in the pulp and anthocyanins in the skins, while at the same time slowing the decomposition of acids. Surprisingly, the pips were ripe from the month of August.
Harvest began on September 4th and took place over four weeks, with the effect of their choices on the final wine always in mind. The aromatic freshness of the berries was preserved by harvesting certain plots of each variety early, while other parcels were given more time on the vine to bring flesh and texture to the wine.

Gentle extractions
In the vat room, a gentle, sulphur-free vinification was carried out according to the phenolic ripeness of the grapes. Each vat had its own vinification itinerary in order to bring out the best in this great vintage. The raw material was treated with great respect and never forced.

Where in the World is Figeac?

Pavie is in the Right Bank of Bordeaux in Saint-Emillion.