Chateau Rollan de By Medoc 2009
We have 4 in stock (Inventory is live and accurate)
The Land
Most people read "Médoc" and think Cabernet Sauvignon. Rollan de By is mostly Merlot, and the reason is in the ground. The estate sits at Bégadan in the northern Médoc, where the gravel ridges of Pauillac and Margaux give way to heavier soils with a lot more clay mixed into the gravel. Clay holds water and stays cool, which suits Merlot and slows down Cabernet Sauvignon, so the estate plants accordingly. The Gironde Estuary is close by, softening frost in spring and stretching the autumn. Médoc red wine from these clay-gravel soils tends to be rounder and fleshier than the Cabernet-driven wines from the southern communes.
The Wine
Château Rollan de By is built on about 70 percent Merlot, with Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot making up the rest. Fermentation takes place in temperature-controlled stainless steel. The Merlot and Petit Verdot go through malolactic in French oak barrels, and the wine ages about 12 months in barrel, mostly new French oak. Barrel malolactic and new wood give the wine its plush, toasty texture. 2009 was a warm, sunny Bordeaux year with a hot summer and a very dry September. Merlot ripened early and fully, producing ripe wines with relatively low acidity. This bottle came from a private cellar, and its storage history is unknown. At 17 years old, expect a deep garnet core, then black plum, blackberry, mocha, cedar and tobacco, a round, full body with softened tannin, and a savory finish. Stand it upright for a day and decant off any sediment.
The People
Jean Guyon came to wine from a different trade. He followed his father and grandfather into antiques dealing and interior design in Paris before falling for the Médoc. In 1989 he bought Rollan de By, then a tiny holding of about 2 hectares of vines at Bégadan. He cut back the Cabernet Sauvignon, planted more Merlot to match the clay, and brought in consultant Alain Raynaud. Over the following decades he built Domaines Rollan de By around it, adding Château Haut-Condissas, Château Tour Séran, Château La Clare and Château Greysac, all leaning on Merlot. The logic is simple: in the northern Médoc, plant for the clay you have rather than the gravel you wish you had.
Food Pairing
The Merlot weight and new oak in Rollan de By 2009 call for richer dishes. Braised short ribs in red wine with mashed potatoes work because the round tannin and plum fruit meet the fat and the sauce. Duck confit with lentils and a little bacon brings salt and richness that the wine's acidity can trim. Grilled ribeye with a black pepper crust matches the toasty oak and mocha. This is the bottle for a cold weeknight when you want a mature Bordeaux without saving it for a special occasion.
We ship wine to most states with a $100 minimum order for shipping. We don't ship spirits nor beer.
Weather shipping advisory: Orders placed during times of extreme heat or extreme cold will be held for no charge until more favorable weather returns.
The Bordeaux wine region, an emblem of vinicultural prestige, is bisected by the Gironde Estuary into the Left and Right Banks, each celebrated for distinct styles shaped by their unique terroirs. The Left Bank is renowned for its structured, Cabernet Sauvignon-led blends, while the Right Bank favors the softer, Merlot-dominated wines. This region is also the birthplace of the luscious, sweet wines of Sauternes. Bordeaux's time-honored blend and winemaking techniques have inspired countless wine regions around the globe, setting a benchmark for the wine world.
Bordeaux
Cabernet Sauvignon, originally hailing from Bordeaux, France, has triumphantly spread to become a cornerstone of vineyards worldwide, achieving particular renown in Napa Valley. This versatile grape variety adapts to a broad spectrum of climates, producing full-bodied wines that are rich in black cherry and blackcurrant flavors, with layered complexities of oak and spice. The grape's success in regions like Napa Valley is a testament to its global adaptability, where it benefits from the optimal blend of warm days and cool nights, coupled with diverse soil types, to express a unique balance of power and elegance that pays homage to its Bordeaux origins.
Cabernet Sauvignon
"Unknown" farming method indicates that the specific vineyard practices used to produce the wine have not yet been clearly identified or verified. Due to limited publicly available information, complexity of research, or lack of transparency from certain wineries, it can sometimes be challenging to accurately categorize each vineyard's farming practices. Our team is actively working to research and update our records to provide the most accurate information on every wine we offer. We understand the importance of transparency and sustainability and strive to categorize and communicate farming methods as quickly and comprehensively as possible.
