Chateau Figeac 2023

JAMES SUCKLING: "The density and finesse to this is terrific, offering blackberry, dark chocolate, walnut and hazelnut, as well as currant and sandalwood. Orange peel, too. Full-bodied and compact with a superb core of thick, velvet-textured tannins and a juicy finish. Extremely long. 41% merlot, 32% cabernet franc and 27% cabernet sauvignon."

THE WINE ADVOCATE: "A brilliant classic in the making, the 2023 Figeac unwinds in the glass with aromas of cassis and mulberry mingled with notions of iris, cigar wrapper, pencil shavings, burning embers and spices. Medium to full-bodied, rich and layered, it's deep and concentrated, with an enveloping core of fruit that's framed by powdery tannins and lively acids, concluding with a broad, atypically mineral finish. It's a blend of 41% Merlot, 32% Cabernet Franc and 27% Cabernet Sauvignon that attained 13.5% alcohol."

FALSTAFF: "Tiefdunkles Rubingranat, opaker Kern violette Reflexe, zarte Randaufhellung. Intensive schwarze Beerenfrucht, nach Brombeeren, ein Hauch von Cassis, zart florale Nuancen, einladendes Bukett. Komplex, saftig, kräftig, zart nach Heidelbeeren, präsente, eingebundene Tannine, salzige Mineralität im Abgang, bleibt sehr gut haften, ein stoffiger und zugleich finessenreicher Speisenbegleiter, sicheres Reifepotenzial."