The wine of Château-Figeac draws its original character from this property, remarkable for its site, its terroir, its history and the men who have embodied it. It has been owned and run by the same family since 1892. It was largely shaped by the visionary, humanist and enterprising spirit of Thierry Manoncourt (1917-2010). His wife Marie-France Manoncourt and their daughters are committed to ensuring the continuity of this family estate and keeping its strong values alive, while constantly refining the personality of Château-Figeac’s great wine. 1906 saw the creation of the famous Château-Figeac label, bearing the coat of arms of Henri de Chèvremont, Thierry Manoncourt’s great-grandfather. Figeac covers 54 hectares, 41 of which are devoted to vines. A collection of 1,001 Bengal roses adorns the vineyard avenues, and the extensive parkland around the essentially Renaissance and 18th-century château bears witness to the family’s attachment to the quality of the environment: garden, pond, arboretum, bamboo grove and wild rabbit warren, making it a veritable island of greenery and biodiversity, unique in the Saint-Emilion vineyards. The Figeac name has enjoyed exceptional longevity. It has been borne by this estate since the 2nd century, when a Gallo-Roman villa (Figeacus) was established on the site of the current château. One of the 5 noble houses of Saint-Émilion during the Middle Ages, Figeac was a vast estate in the hands of illustrious families.
Today’s Château de Figeac is the heart of the historic estate, with its three famous gravelly hilltops forming an exceptional terroir. Thierry Manoncourt, an agricultural engineer, set about developing this original and varied terroir with its remarkable viticultural potential from the very first harvest in 1943. To achieve this, he sought the best possible match between the terroir, the grape varieties and the care lavished on the vines and the wine. He established a skilful balance between traditional methods and a scientific approach, constantly innovating and challenging his work (he created a second wine as early as 1945 and built highly innovative installations from 1971). Figeac owes its unique grape variety to Thierry Manoncourt, with 30% Merlot, 35% Cabernet Franc and 35% Cabernet Sauvignon. It was he who created the highly recognisable “Figeac style”: great freshness, great persistence, great elegance and great ageing potential. The Manoncourt family is still very much involved in the choices and life of Figeac. The scientific approach and the demand for quality that have enabled Figeac to flourish guide recent investments and projects. For example, the construction of a building dedicated to viticulture, incorporating the latest technologies, respectful of the environment and in harmony with the style of the château, due to open in 2021. Figeac is committed to sustainable development and environmental certification (ISO 14001, HVE3), and has been a Premier Grand Cru Classé A since 2022.
