2020 Chateau La Tour Figeac L'Esquisse de la Tour Figeac Saint Emilion Grand Cru 750 ml

Carved out of Figeac’s $300-per-bottle vineyards over a century ago—just like neighboring Château Cheval Blanc—Château La Tour Figeac is one of Bordeaux’s hidden gems. And in the stellar 2020 vintage, La Tour Figeac’s L’Esquisse bottling—made by superstar consultant Stéphane Derenoncourt—represents one of the finest values in aristocratic Bordeaux. 

Up until the late 19th century, there was no La Tour Figeac—its precious rows were part of the Château Figeac estate, which has roots going back to the Roman conquest of Gaul. Wine from this tiny patch of Bordeaux has been famous for nearly as long, and over the centuries, portions of what was once all Figeac have been sold off. Château Cheval Blanc is the most notable example. And in 1879, the sale took place that created Château La Tour Figeac.

The estate’s modern history really begins in 1973, when the Rettenmaier family purchased and then set about polishing the diamond in the rough. The conversion of the estate to biodynamics in 1997 and then the arrival of Derenoncourt soon after marked a turning point in their wines. Robert Parker noted soon after that the estate was finally realizing its “enormous potential.”

Since then, La Tour Figeac has just improved, and in the outstanding 2020 vintage, they made one of their greatest-ever sets of wines. Their L'Esquisse de La Tour Figeac, the estate’s second wine, is crafted to capture the essence of their prime soils while rewarding immediate drinking.

The 2020 vintage was a warm season that Wine Advocate declared “produced brilliant wines” with push fruit and silky tannins. The 2020 L’Esquisse is an outrageously classy Right Bank bottle that’s approachable now but will age effortlessly for more than a decade.