Château Rol Valentin: Vineyards
The ‘original’ Château Rol Valentin (pictured on the first page of this profile) sits not far from the road running northwest out of St Emilion, which heads towards (depending on which turning you take) the gravelly vineyards of the appellation, including the aforementioned Château Figeac and Château Cheval Blanc, as well as all of Pomerol, or the suburbs of Libourne. Along the way, taking a right turn at Château La Gomerie, long before you reach these more distant vineyards, you will soon find yourself at Château Rol Valentin.
The domaine is in good company here. Near neighbours include Château Chauvin and Château Grand Corbin (to the north and west), and Château Côte de Baleau and Château Fonroque (to the south and east). The soils here tend to be quite sandy, peppered with gravels and stones, generally lake- and river-deposits dating to the Oligocene.
This is not the entirety of the Château Rol Valentin vineyard though. Eric Prissette built the domaine up to a respectable 7.3 hectares all told, and although about 1.8 hectares of vines are located here around the château and cellars (and swimming pool), the 5.5-hectare balance is in a quite distant parcel in St-Etienne-de-Lisse. This commune lies to the east of the town of St Emilion, and is where we find Château Valandraud, Château Fleur Cardinale, Château de Pressac and Château Faugères, among others. The terroir here is perhaps superior, with more clay, and some limestone. The vines in St-Etienne-de-Lisse are pictured below, and the rolling slopes and dark soils hint at the clay and limestone (rather than sand) which lies underfoot.
