Chateau Figeac is located on the westernmost edge of the Saint-Emilion appellation on the right bank of Bordeaux, bordering Pomerol and adjacent to Chateau Cheval Blanc to the north. It was classified as a Saint-Emilion Premier Grand Cru Classé B in 1955 and elevated to a Saint-Emilion Premier Grand Cru Classé A in 2022.
The name "Figeac" dates back nearly 2,000 years to the 2nd century AD. At that time, a family named "Figeacus" owned an estate on the land now occupied by the estate and named it after their surname. Around 1000 AD, during the Middle Ages, the estate became the property of the local lord.
By the 15th century, Château Figeac had become one of the five great noble estates of Saint-Émilion, and was successively owned by the Lescours family, who also owned Château Ausone, and the Cazes family, who now own Château Lynch-Bages. In 1586, Raymond de Cazes, the estate's owner and also a magistrate in Libourne, rebuilt the estate, which had been burned down during the Wars of Religion, in a classic Renaissance style. With Marie de Cazes' marriage to the Carle family in 1654, Château Figeac came under their ownership. However, an economic crisis forced the estate to sell some of its land to survive. Later, several renowned wineries emerged on these sold lands, including Château Cheval Blanc, Château la Tour Figeac, and Château la Conseillante in Pomerol.
In 1892, the Manoncourt family took over Château Figeac. In 1943, Thierry Manoncourt took over the winery, determining the planting ratio of different grape varieties based on the characteristics of the vineyard soil—35% Cabernet Sauvignon, 35% Cabernet Franc, and 30% Merlot—thus creating the distinctive style of Château Figeac. In 1971, the winery renovated its cellars and fermentation facilities, an act that made Thierry a prominent figure in Saint-Émilion at the time. Today, Marie-France Manoncourt, Thierry Manoncourt's wife who laid the foundation for the current Château Figeac, serves as the honorary owner. The estate continues to be managed by their daughter, current owner Hortense Idoine Manoncourt, and with the help of General Manager Frederic Faye and other team members.
Region
The Château Figeac vineyards, situated on three hills west of Saint-Émilion and bordering Pomerol, cover 40 hectares. The vines have an average age of 35 years and are planted at a density of 6,000 vines per hectare. The vineyard soils are primarily gravelly from the Massif Central, formed during the Quaternary Period approximately 2.6 million years ago by alluvial deposits from the Isle, a tributary of the Dordogne. The gravelly soil covering the hills effectively traps and reflects heat, allowing it to warm rapidly in spring and providing the ideal microclimate for grape growth, resulting in complex and delicate wines. The gravelly soil's poor density, while limiting yield, also contributes to the concentrated flavors of the grapes. The hill's slope ensures excellent drainage. The diverse subsoil at Domaine Figueires—including gravel up to 7 meters deep and clay up to 1 meter deep—provides ample and continuous moisture to the vines even in hot, dry summers, ensuring full ripening of the grapes. In addition to 40 hectares of vineyards, the estate boasts 14 hectares of gardens, lawns, ponds, bamboo groves, and forests surrounding the castle. This respect for biodiversity is a long-standing tradition of the Manoncourt family.
Winemaking
In 2012, Domaine Figueires hired the renowned "flying winemaker" Michel Rolland as a winemaking consultant to help the estate produce high-quality wines that better express the complex characteristics of the terroir. After ripening, the grapes are hand-harvested, and only the highest quality grapes are selected for the flagship wine. Following destemming and crushing, the winemaking team chooses to ferment the grapes in large wooden barrels or stainless steel tanks, depending on the characteristics of the different vineyard plots. After fermentation, all the wine is aged in new French oak barrels.
Chateau Figeac wines are aromatic and well-balanced, developing a round, velvety texture with slight aging. The winery currently produces two wines: the flagship wine, Chateau Figeac, and the second wine, Chateau Figeac Petit-Figeac. Vintages prior to 2012 are called La Grange Neuve de Figeac. The annual production of the flagship wine is approximately 100,000 bottles, and the second wine is approximately 40,000 bottles.
