Today we share an icon in Washington wine, founded by eminent Leonetti proprietor Chris Figgisn. FIGGINS is an iconic brand started more than a decade ago and they have completed his new winery at the FIGGINS estate vineyard. This is a Napa level of hospitality at this scenic site, with its beautiful tasting room and elaborate caves underneath. A long time in the making, the winery is one of the great spots in the Pacific Northwest to taste, with expansive views of the entire valley. I love going there to taste and relax.
The quality in their Estate Red Wine has grown and grown in the past decade. The Estate Red is a combination of varietals year to year but focuses on Cabernet Sauvignon from this high elevation site set on loess soils. I know that they have been slowly adding more Petit Verdot into this blend as this site arguably produces the finest Petit in the state. This is always a proprietary blend that is stored now in almost half neutral barrels before bottling. The wine is extremely age worthy as I have tasted wines from ten years of age and they still have a long way to go in the cellar. They can be somewhat austere upon release and need a lot of air or time in the decanter if you don’t have the patience to cellar them.
The new wines come from the slightly cooler 2022 vintage which was more mixed in terms of overall quality for Bordeaux varietals. In this case, both of these wines can be bought with confidence. 2022 is a producer vintage for Bordeaux varietals and both of these wines have excellent power and poise. Quite simply a perfect wine, the 2022 ‘Caves’ Cabernet Sauvignon (OB, 100) is a limited production wine that is going to sell out immediately. Only 75 cases made of this total stunner. Here are my reviews of the new 2025 fall releases by FIGGINS.
2022 FIGGINS Red Wine- The 2022 FIGGINS Red Wine is a proprietary blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Petit Verdot all coming from the Figgins Estate Vineyard. Stored in 70% new French oak, this delivers a knockout bouquet of graphite and tar alongside suggestions of huckleberry compote, mocha, and black licorice. The heady aromatics bring you back to the glass for more enjoyment. While this comes off initially aromatically reticent, after an hour of air this really sings in its high octave. The palate is plush as velvety tannins frame a glorious core of black and blue fruits, with menthol, dark chocolate shavings and stony mineral accents. This really needs at least another year or two of bottle age — but shows massive aging potential. Drink 2027-2050- 98
2022 FIGGINS ‘Caves’ Cabernet Sauvignon- The 2022 ‘Caves’ is a new wine made by winemaker Chris Figgins that utilizes a mere three barrels from two blocks at his estate vineyard. Inky and dark in the glass, the wine was stored for 22 months in all new French oak before bottling. Scorched earth and cuban cigar mark the nose alongside suggestions of Black Forest cake. The palate is lush and inviting with a sinfully good, pillowy texture, as this weightless beauty glides throughout the drinking experience. This just keeps building and building with each texturally opulent sip, offering a soaring combination of decadence, tension and flavor complexity. A world-class wine that is built to age, this is just a stunning accomplishment in what was a somewhat difficult vintage for Bordeaux varietals. Tasted twice with consistent notes. Drink 2028-2054- 100