Chateau Rollan de By Medoc Bordeaux, Complete Guide

Learn everything about Chateau Rollan de By, Haut Medoc with wine tasting notes, and wine with food pairing tips. Learn the best vintages, the history of the property, and information on their vineyards and winemaking. If you want to read about other important Bordeaux chateau, Links to all Bordeaux Wine Producer Profiles

Chateau Rollan de By History, Overview

Jean Guyon, the owner Chateau Rollan de By did not start out life seeking a career in wine. At first, he followed his father and grandfather as a seller of antiques and as an interior designer. But the world of wine caught his interest before his 30th birthday.

Chateau Rollan de By is a relatively young estate. The vineyard began earning a reputation when it was purchased by Jean Guyon in 1989. At the time, Rollan de By was a diminutive estate with only 2.5 hectares of vines when it was initially created.

Under the direction of Jean Guyon, the property has increased in size almost 20 times! Over the years, Jean Guyon has also added other Bordeaux value wines to his holdings including Chateau Haut Condissas, Chateau Greysac, Chateau Tour Seran, and Chateau La Clare.

In 2012, Jean Guyon purchased one of the most famous Cru Bourgeois estates in all of Bordeaux when he took control of Chateau Greysac. In 2014, Jean Guyon produced an upscale version of his 5 different wines sold as The Collection Or.

Led by Rollan de By, the bottles used in the collection are all made from opaque, black glass etched in gold. Due to their ornate packaging, they are the most expensive Cru Bourgeois yet released. The boxed set includes Larose Trintaudon, Greysac, Tour Seran, and La Clare.

Chateau Rollan de By Vineyards, Terroir, Grapes, Winemaking

The 45-hectare vineyard of Chateau Rollan de By is planted to 70% Merlot, 10% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Cabernet Franc and 10% Petit Verdot. They have a terroir of clay and gravel soils. All the clay in the soils explains why there is so much Merlot planted here.

The vines at Chateau Rollan de By are old, with an average age of 35 years. The vineyard is planted to a vine density of density that ranges from 8,500 vines per hectare up to 11,000 vines per hectare. Before being purchased by Jean Guyon, the vineyard of Rollan de By had more Cabernet Sauvignon in the vineyard.

It was the decision of Jean Guyon to decrease the amount of Cabernet Sauvignon in the vines and add more Merlot, due to the high concentration of clay found in the soil as we mentioned previously.

The vinification of Rollan de By takes place in temperature-controlled, stainless steel vats. Malolactic fermentation for the Cabernet Sauvignon takes place tank, while the Merlot and Petit Verdot go through Malolactic in French oak barrels.

The wine of Rollan de By is aged in a combination of 90% new, French oak barrels and 10% new, American oak barrels for an average of 12 months. There is a second wine, Fleur de By. Chateau Rollan de By also makes a Kosher cuvee’. Alain Raynaud is the consultant. On average, 20,000 cases of Chateau Rollan de By are produced every vintage.

Chateau Rollan de By also produces a small amount of white Bordeaux wine from 100% Sauvignon Blanc, using the aptly named moniker of Rollan de By Sauvignon Blanc.

When to Drink Chateau Rollan de By, Anticipated Maturity, Decanting Time

Chateau Rollan de By can be decanted for an average of 1 hour or so. This allows the wine to soften and open its perfume. Older vintages might need very little decanting, just enough to remove the sediment.

Chateau Rollan de By is usually better with at least 2-4 years of bottle age. Of course, that can vary slightly, depending on the vintage character. Chateau Rollan de By offers its best drinking and should reach peak maturity between 3-15 years of age after the vintage.

Serving and Decanting Chateau Rollan de By with Wine, Food, Pairing Tips

Chateau Rollan de By is best served at 15.5 degrees Celsius, 60 degrees Fahrenheit. The cool, almost cellar temperature gives the wine more freshness and lift. The wine of Chateau Rollan de By is best served with all types of classic meat dishes, veal, pork, beef, lamb, duck, game, roast chicken, roasted, braised, and grilled dishes.

Chateau Rollan de By is a perfect match with Asian dishes, hearty fish courses like tuna, mushrooms, and pasta as well as cheese.

www.rollandeby.com

Château Rollan de By Wine Tasting Notes

14 Vintages 52,384 Views Sort by Vintage-Rating

2022
90
Supple, round, creamy, forward, and filled with sweet black cherries, black currants and espresso, with some licorice that comes in on the back end of the finish. Drink from 2025-2035. 89-91 Pts.

Supple, round, creamy, forward, and filled with sweet black cherries, black currants and espresso, with some licorice that comes in on the back end of the finish. Drink from 2025-2035. 89-91 Pts.

2,138 Views   Tasted
2021
86
Round, forward, currant and espresso filled wine with an early-drinking, forward, fruity, oaky character. Drink from 2023-2028. 85-87

Round, forward, currant and espresso filled wine with an early-drinking, forward, fruity, oaky character. Drink from 2023-2028. 85-87

1,522 Views   Tasted
2020
89
Here you find flowers, espresso and leafy, red currants on the nose, before moving to the soft, ripe, fresh, easy to like and drink, mid-palate and slightly, tangy finish. You can drink this on release. Drink from 2023-2032.

Here you find flowers, espresso and leafy, red currants on the nose, before moving to the soft, ripe, fresh, easy to like and drink, mid-palate and slightly, tangy finish. You can drink this on release. Drink from 2023-2032.

1,168 Views   Tasted
Medium-bodied, soft, forward, bright and polished, the wine offers an espresso, herb and red berry core on the palate and in the finish. You can drink this on release. 85-87 Pts

Medium-bodied, soft, forward, bright and polished, the wine offers an espresso, herb and red berry core on the palate and in the finish. You can drink this on release. 85-87 Pts

2,465 Views   Tasted
2019
88
Medium-bodied, bright, fresh, crisp, juicy red currants with an herb accented profile on the nose and in the finish. Forward in style, you can enjoy this on release. Drink from 2022-2031.

Medium-bodied, bright, fresh, crisp, juicy red currants with an herb accented profile on the nose and in the finish. Forward in style, you can enjoy this on release. Drink from 2022-2031.

1,464 Views   Tasted
2018
88
Lush, round and forward, with ripe, dark red fruits, licorice, cocoa, espresso, vanilla and smoke, this is perfect for early drinking. 87-89 Pts

Lush, round and forward, with ripe, dark red fruits, licorice, cocoa, espresso, vanilla and smoke, this is perfect for early drinking. 87-89 Pts

2,505 Views   Tasted
2017
88
Licorice, tobacco, and red fruits along with soft tannins and an early drinking charm define the medium bodied wine.

Licorice, tobacco, and red fruits along with soft tannins and an early drinking charm define the medium bodied wine.

2,380 Views   Tasted
2016
89
Fresh, round, fruity, medium-bodied, and open, allowing you to enjoy all of its sweet, ripe, dark red berries, spice, espresso, earth, and thyme now, and over the next few years. Drink from 2022-2030.

Fresh, round, fruity, medium-bodied, and open, allowing you to enjoy all of its sweet, ripe, dark red berries, spice, espresso, earth, and thyme now, and over the next few years. Drink from 2022-2030.

2,457 Views   Tasted
Polished red fruits and black cherries with softness, medium body and a forward attitude.

Polished red fruits and black cherries with softness, medium body and a forward attitude.

3,353 Views   Tasted
2015
89
Ready to drink, this forward, round, supple, soft, dark red berry-filled wine comes with a liberal blast of oak, licorice, smoke and chocolate. It is a nice, crowd-pleasing wine that is already easy to drink.

Ready to drink, this forward, round, supple, soft, dark red berry-filled wine comes with a liberal blast of oak, licorice, smoke and chocolate. It is a nice, crowd-pleasing wine that is already easy to drink.

5,536 Views   Tasted
2014
86
Bright red fruits and black cherries create the character of this early drinker that is already showing a polished, forward, sweet and fresh personality. 85-87 Pts

Bright red fruits and black cherries create the character of this early drinker that is already showing a polished, forward, sweet and fresh personality. 85-87 Pts

1,927 Views   Tasted
2012
85
Medium bodied, simple, and vinified to be enjoyed in its youth. 84-86 Pts

Medium bodied, simple, and vinified to be enjoyed in its youth. 84-86 Pts

3,610 Views   Tasted
2010
88
Licorice, coffee bean, vanilla and ripe, dark berries are found in this forward, easy to like, crowd pleasing wine.

Licorice, coffee bean, vanilla and ripe, dark berries are found in this forward, easy to like, crowd pleasing wine.

4,206 Views   Tasted
2009
88
Blending 70% Cabernet Sauvignon, 25% Merlot and 5% Petit Verdot produced an earthy, vanilla, cassis and licorice flavored, medium bodied wine that’s already fun to drink and value priced as well.

Blending 70% Cabernet Sauvignon, 25% Merlot and 5% Petit Verdot produced an earthy, vanilla, cassis and licorice flavored, medium bodied wine that’s already fun to drink and value priced as well.

6,626 Views   Tasted
2008
87
Espresso with black and red fruits with herbal aromatics make up the perfume. Medium bodied and okay on the palate, the wine ends with a dusty, cassis finish.

Espresso with black and red fruits with herbal aromatics make up the perfume. Medium bodied and okay on the palate, the wine ends with a dusty, cassis finish.

4,687 Views   Tasted
2005
89
Coffee, chocolate, boysenberry and tobacco scents lead to a medium/full bodied, round textured, crowd pleasing style of Bordeaux wine that is ready to drink.

Coffee, chocolate, boysenberry and tobacco scents lead to a medium/full bodied, round textured, crowd pleasing style of Bordeaux wine that is ready to drink.

6,340 Views   Tasted