2015 Château La Tour Figeac L'esquisse de La Tour Figeac St.-Émilion 750 ml

When St.-Émilion was first classified in 1955, Château La Tour Figeac was among the inaugural group of estates to be awarded Grand Cru Classé status. Fans of their wines were not surprised: Since the late 19th century, the estate, located in the sweet spot of St.-Émilion, with Château Cheval Blanc to the east and Château Figeac just south, has produced some of the finest reds on the Right Bank.

The 2015 Château la Tour Figeac L'Esquisse de La Tour Figeac Saint-Émilion is as magnificent as you’d expect from the great estate in a classic vintage. It hovers above the glass with aromas of cedar, leather, violets, plums, and sweet tobacco that pave the way for a supple, still-tightly-knit palate anchored by a core of red currant and plum, all zipped through with earthy hints of cedar and tobacco. This is one of the values of the vintage, and a must-have addition to the collections of Bordeaux lovers everywhere.

Like the grand vin, L'Esquisse de La Tour Figeac embodies everything that makes this relatively small 14.6 hectare estate so important. It’s a blend of 65% Merlot and 35% Cabernet Franc, all biodynamically grown in the clay-sand and gravel soils that give the wine such structure and generosity.

Consulting winemaker Stéphane Derenoncourt—he also works with Château Smith Haut Lafitte, Inglenook, and dozens of other top producers around the world—took full advantage of the vintage that James Suckling called “extremely exciting,” and crafted a wine that’s phenomenal already but also has a decade of aging potential ahead.

While Le Petit Cheval, the second wine of neighboring Château Cheval Blanc, typically clears $200, we’re offering the 2015 Château La Tour Figeac L'Esquisse de La Tour Figeac Saint-Émilion for 1/4th the price. Grand Cru Classé doesn’t get any more approachable, or exciting, than that.