Haut Condissas 1998
Already preceded by an excellent reputation Haut Condissas 1998 is still convincing us with its beautiful intense purple ruby dress, its nose is mature and well developed and rather complex because oscillating between the mineral the blackcurrant, the cedar and the licorice and its mouth is ample, substantial and well structured. its secret : a strict selection of old vines which deliver us in the end a strong and full bodied wine capable of confronting with classified growths. An excellent investment if it is there. more
Jean Guyon's determination to succeed in everything that he undertakes is just as deeply
rooted as his vines at Begadan, in a clayey limestone hilltops. With his usual straightforwardness,
Jean Guyon clearly acknowledges to have taken all the necessary financial and
human steps to make Rollan de By a reference point in the Medoc.
His ambitions, as a vine-grower
are very precise : to increase the
standing of this appellation with
the help of the owners in this
sector of the northern Medoc, far
too often underestimated, and let
people discover the riches of this
terroir.
Since then, Chateau Haut
Condissas (in 1995), Chateau Tour
Seran (in 2000) and Chateau La
Clare (in 2001) have come along.
These estates together with
Château Rollan de By form a
viticultural unity of very high
quality in the Medoc appellation.
In 1989, at the beginning of this challenge, Rollan de By only had a surface area of two hectares.
Today, after the arrival of Haut Condissas, Tour Seran and La Clare, the estates account for a total
of more than 85 hectares under production.
Always trained with the greatest care, the vineyard is in an irreproachable state. As soon as he
arrived, Jean Guyon initiated a rationalised cultivation policy. He respects the environment and
returns to a traditional vine growing while taking the advantage of new technologies. In order to
recover a natural ecosystem, the vines are replanted and active natural fertilizers are chosen.
Grassing and regular soil analyses are carried out in order to compensate for eventual deficiencies.
Green harvest is practised on the most productive plots to control the yield and obtain an optimal
maturity. The harvest marks a decisive period for Rollan de By .
The search for phenolic maturity is the watchword, the
quantity of sugar alone is not a sufficient criteria to
appreciate the maturity of the grape. Hand picking,
collecting in small crates, strict sorting at the cellar and
de-stemming : everything is done to protect the berries
of Rollan de By until they reach the vat.
The vinification takes place with the
greatest respect for the grape. The wines
are elaborated with particular care in stain-
less steel vats with a total capacity of 6 800
hectolitres. They have the advantage of an
accurate temperature control system in
order to vinify at a low temperature and
obtain perfect extraction.
For the same reason, the malolactic
fermentation is achieved, partly in new
barrels.
In the best tradition, the wines are put early on
into barrels, made of wood from a carefully
chosen origin. A perfectly insulated ageing
cellar, with a capacity of 1 400 barrels, is home
to the harvest during the 16 month-long ageing,
which is punctuated by regular rackings. Each
harvest is bottled entirely at the chateau under
the best possible hygienic conditions. The
average annual production of the estates is
500 000 bottles.
