2012 Rol Valentin

The 2012 Rol Valentin is powerful, rich and inviting, with its characteristic richness and seamless texture on full display. Dark red cherry, plum, smoke, licorice and tobacco shape the voluptuous, creamy finish. The 2012 is quite expressive today, but it will be even better in another year or two, once the elements have had a bit more time to fuse together. The creamy, open-knit finish only adds to the wine's considerable appeal. This striking, modern Saint Emilion from Rol Valentin and consulting winemaker Julien Lavenu is one of the sleepers of the vintage. The blend is 90% Merlot and 10% Cabernet Franc.

Made from 90% Merlot and 10% Cabernet Franc, with a saturated ruby/purple color and dense black cherry and plum-like fruit pushing ripeness to the limit, on the palate the wine is medium to full-bodied, pure, ripe and nicely textured, with soft, round tannins. This is a very successful effort from Rol Valentin that can be approached early on or drunk over the following 10-15 years.

Deep dark cherry. Attractive, lightly floral nose. Firm, dry and refined in its freshness and structure. Savoury char on the finish is the only distraction. (JH)