In 2004, Alexandra and Nicolas bought the 10ha Château de Laussac, in AOC Castillon Côtes de Bordeaux where they produce four different wines from four distinct ‘terroirs’. It was the beginning of an adventure.
In August 2008, they bought the tiny Le Clos Vieux Taillefer in Pomerol from Nicolas’ grandfather, a parcel of vines in the family since 1875. Now expanded to just under 4 ha including a new wine making and barrel ageing cellar.
Once Château Rol Valentin had joined the Vignobles Robin portfolio, in 2016, they took over Château Gontet, the family property on the slopes of Montagne Saint-Emilion and Puisseguin Saint-Emilion, following in the footsteps of Nicolas’ father.
In 2019, they bought le Château Angelot Robin, next to Château Gontet in Montagne, and the same year, much further afield in Provence, Le Clos de Sainte-Maxime where they produce rosé and red from four hectares of vines.
Like most right bank properties Château Rol Valentin, is small with 7,30 ha but it has the advantage of having these plots on two different terroirs of the appellation 7 kms apart. One plot is on the clay limestone plateau slopes the other on the edge of the town to the North of Saint Emilion. Planted with a majority of Merlot but also Cabernet Franc and Malbec, each plot is vinified in its own splendid new concrete vat, and then blended to create two wines, the Grand Vin de Château Rol Valentin and the romantically named Les Valentines. Herbicide has never been used at Château Rol
Valentin, and the property was certified HVE3 in 2019. Their hard work was rewarded when the property was classified in the 2022 Saint Emilion Classification.
Wine tourism a family affair.
The couple are very hands-on, living on site with their family, Nicolas manages viticulture and wine making and Alexandra, marketing and wine tourism.
They have always embraced wine tourism with a gite available for rent at Château de Laussac, but it’s with Château Rol Valentin, that is just 5 minutes from Saint Emilion at Sainte Etienne de Lisse, that they have really expanded upon the warm welcome offered to guests.
Visitors are invited to discover the brand new cellar, completed in 2020, lined with elegant concrete tanks, the glass fronted barrel cellar and a new tasting room. After a tasting they can stay on for a picnic at the estate or taste along with local cheese and charcuterie platters and the always popular chocolate and wine tasting.
The star tasting experience, and the one that won the Best Of Wine Tourism Award for Innovative Wine Tourism Experiences this year, is the Glass Workshop; Verres-Tigineux. Alexandra & Nicolas were inspired by a tasting masterclass with Maximilien Ridel where they discovered how the shape of a glass can change the perception of the wine. An educational and surprising tasting experience they wanted to share with their guests. The same wine is poured into four different glasses including, of course the one designed specifically for the Bordeaux Blend. But is it really the best one? Only one way to find out.
Other experiences include a hands-on workshop where guests can try their blending skills in creating their own cuvée with samples of different varieties taken directly from the barrel, and then take their creations home with them.
If all that works up an appetite, there’s always an option of lunch in the renovated harvest kitchens, paired with wines from across their properties. They receive all year round and in front of a roaring fire in the winter.
From vine to vat, to barrel, to glass, at Château Rol Valentine the Robin family offers a fascinating insight into the wines of the right bank.
Wendy Narby
Photos Credits : ©MySweetMadeleine-Photographe-VignoblesRobin