efore our tour begins, in the chateau's main courtyard, it is useful to place Chateau Figeac within the context of its appellation.
he Saint-Emilion appellation covers 5,400 hectares, and includes more than 1,200 estates.
here are various soil types. The 4 main ones are:

teep 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.
  
lluvial sand on the large plain along the banks of the Dordogne. There are nearly 2,000 hectares here as well.
  
he 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.
  
he 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. Chateaux Cheval Blanc and Figeac share this small area, which is often referred to as "Graves de Saint-Emilion".

Thierry Manoncourt

lthough 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".