CHATEAU ROL VALENTIN ST EMILION GRAND CRU 2020

In Saint-Émilion, Malbec is essentially extinct — yet Rol Valentin holds onto 5% of it in this 2020 blend alongside 85% Merlot and 10% Cabernet Franc. The herbicide-free, 40-year-old vines grow across sand, clay, and limestone soils on the Right Bank, with yields held to 35 hl/ha through green harvesting. Consulting oenologist Stéphane Derenoncourt oversees gentle extraction in small wooden vats, followed by 14–16 months aging in French oak on the lees. The result is concentrated dark plum, blackberry, and graphite with velvety tannins, espresso, and a refined, mineral finish.