Eric Prissette, who sold this cru in 2009, began his career as a professional soccer player from the north of France. A love of competition and the drive for excellence were plainly what led him to acquire this estate in 1994. Since then, Rol Valentin has repeatedly been acclaimed for the inten?sity and quality of its great Saint-Emilion vintages. Sourced from a small vineyard, planted in a mixture of clay, limestone, and sandy soils, his wine delivers all the vigor but also charm of modern, merlot-driven Saint-Emilions: generous aromas, intense structure, all the power and depth you could wish for, and perfect balance. Rol Valentin is instantly seductive when young but also ages gracefully-now one of today's top wines.