Welcome to Chateau Figeac - Premier grand cru classe of Saint-Emilion

<body topmargin="0" leftmargin="9"> <p>Before our tour begins, in the chateau's main courtyard, it is useful to place Chateau Figeac within the context of its appellation. The <a href="/2_degustation/2_index.html">Saint-Emilion appellation covers 5,400 hectares</a>, and includes more than 1,200 estates. There are various soil types. The 4 main ones are: Steep limestone slopes located near the town of Saint-Emilion (2,400 hectares), which are responsible for much of the appellation's reputation. This is where 11 of the 13 Premiers Grands Crus Classés are located. Alluvial sand on the large plain along the banks of the Dordogne. There are nearly 2,000 hectares here as well. The 3rd large sub-division, covering 1,200 hectares, is composed of a plateau located west of the town, and which extends as far as the village of Pomerol. It consists primarily of aeolian sand has extraordinary filtering powers, and is conducive to producing fine wines. The last region, located to the extreme west of the 3rd area, is the smallest part of the appellation, made up of 60 hectares of gravel. <a href="../3_figeac_en_images/3b_index.html">Chateaux Cheval Blanc and Figeac share this small area, which is often referred to as "Graves de Saint-Emilion"</a>. Thierry Manoncourt Although most of the appellation is planted with Merlot (which is ideal for limestone soils), and to a lesser extent Cabernet Franc, Chateau Figeac uses completely different proportions of grape varieties on account of its fine gravelly soil: 70 % Cabernet (half Cabernet Franc, half Cabernet Sauvignon) and only 30 % Merlot. This unusual blend of grape varieties explains why Figeac can be considered the "most Médoc of Saint-Emilions". Figeac is a very ancient estate, going back at least as far as the 2nd century AD, during the Gallo-Roman period, when a certain Figeacus gave his name to a villa he built on this location. The site has been continually inhabited ever since then, as proved by vestiges: a water-supply system dating from the Gallo-Roman period, foundations of buildings from the Middle Ages with defensive walls, and the remains of a Renaissance chateau reflected in the present-day <a href="../5_livre_or/5_index.html">chateau's great door and tower</a>. Figeac belonged to the same family for more than 500 years, and was nearly 200 hectares by the late 18th century. Unfortunately, the estate was sold a number of times in the 19th century. Successive owners sold numerous plots, which explains the birth of various chateaux that appended the name Figeac to their own. However, Figeac continues to be the largest estate in the commune of Saint-Emilion, with 40 hectares of vines. The central part of the chateau, built in a very pure, classical architectural style, dates from the late 18th century.</p> </body>