Château Rollan de By

To the north and west of Bordeaux along the Garonne, this strip of land stretches over 80 miles to the Atlantic Ocean. Formerly a marshy area, it was drained by Dutch engineers in the seventeenth century. The soil is mainly comprised of graves drainantes et de sables et le principal relief est assuré par des coupes de graves et des bas plateaux. We note that almost all the best slopes are oriented towards the Garonne, where the INAO (Institut National des Appellations d'Origine) has delineated the AOC region regularly producing the finest wines. The climate is strongly influenced by the imposing body of water that allows penetration of the Gulf Stream winds into the vineyard. This causes temperate summers and a long, late harvest - lasting until October. The predominant varietal is undoubtedly the Cabernet Sauvignon, with Cabernet Franc and Merlot grown in on a smaller scale. This late-season varietal requires planting in drying soils in order to thrive. Otherwise, the resulting beverage can have a harshness and vegetal aromas. In the past, this varietal generally produced rather tannic wines, perfect for cellaring, and aging with a unique distinction. Today, the more delicate vinification techniques create a more flexible, aromatic, and supple product.