2000 Château Figeac

Dense ruby in colour, slight bricking around the edges. Beautifully supple tannins, hints of black truffle, cocoa dusting. Signature Figeac finesse. Bright and vivid, feels like the slow-moving 2000 is now beginning to rival the legendary 2001 Figeac, and reaching that point where you can't decide if you want to slow down and savour every sip or rev up and drink it down in a few gulps. From double magnum. 100% new oak.

This has taken its time to open, and a number of tastings in recent years have foudnd the 2000 Figeac still stubborn - not the case here, and it really is moving into its drinking window. The tannins have now melted, and caress the brambled raspberry and blackberry fruit, with the dominant flavours now more spice and tobacco. Delivers the characteristic finesse of Figeac, and retains enough concentration that you can be confident of another decade or more of fine drinking.

The 2000 Château Figeac is now fully mature and at point, yet has plenty of life ahead, showing almost no signs of bricking in color at the edge. It's an incredibly complex, nuanced example of Figeac that shines more for its complexity than power. Beautiful currants, green tobacco, cedar, and lead pencil aromatics give way to a medium-bodied Saint-Emilion with a wonderful core of sweet fruit, silky, polished tannins, terrific overall balance, and a great finish. Building beautifully with time in the glass, it's a complex, nuanced, gorgeous Figeac to enjoy any time over the coming two decades. As is common with this wine, it has a Left Bank vibe and I'd probably guess this was a top Saint-Julien in a blind tasting.