An Introduction to Château d’Esclans
An Introduction to Château d’Esclans
Château d’Esclans is a stunning estate in Provence, northeast of St. Tropez. Acquired by wine maker Sacha Lichine in 2006, he embarked on a visionary quest to craft the finest rosés globally, sparking what’s now hailed as the “Rosé Renaissance”. Celebrating its sixteenth vintage, Château d’Esclans produces Garrus, considered the Dom Pérignon of pink wine, it is acclaimed as being the greatest French rosé ever made. Esteemed wine critics have become devotees of its delicate style too, Matthew Jukes writes , “I sense that Garrus will, one day, be mentioned in the same breath as wines like La Tâche, Latour, Vieilles Vignes Françaises and Le Montrachet.”
The property produces eight wines, from The Pale at entry level, to The Beach, Whispering Angel, Rock Angel, Chateau d’Esclans, Les Clans and Garrus at the premium end.
Sacha-Lichine
“The challenge was to make it serious or grand,” he says. “I wanted to make rosé taste like a real wine; the dark rosés are juicier and richer, with Syrah that candies a bit of the wine in rosé, but we wanted to take away the heaviness and create an elegance.“
Son of the late Alexis Lichine, author of “Wines of France”, Sacha was born in Bordeaux and educated in America. He spent his youth assisting on his family’s property, Chateau Prieuré Lichine, and further accruing experience in the wine trade by serving as a sommelier in Boston, and organising wine tours in France. At the age of 27, he inherited the family estate. Ever the entrepreneur, he ventured into establishing a successful negotiant business, named Borvin. In 2006, Sacha acquired Chateau d’ Esclans in Provence and embarked on constructing a global rosé brand.
We’ve highlighted five wines from the Château d’Esclans range… let us know what you think!
Whilst you read… why not put on our Château d’Esclans playlist on Spotify? It’s filled with top tracks to get you in the mood for a glass of cold Rosé! You can listen to the playlist by clicking here.
The Beach
The playful “little sister” to Whispering Angel, The Beach, is made from grapes sourced from vineyards in Côteaux d’Aix-en-Provence. Made from a blend of Grenache, Cinsault and Syrah.
Grapes are harvested in the morning to help to avoid the heat of the day and to keep the crop fresh and vibrant. The Beach is vinified in stainless steel, temperature controlled, fermentation tanks, remaining on the lees, in order to give texture to the juices.
This pale rosé has a lovely dry palate, that is light and crisp, with aromas of red summer berries, limes, melons and a touch of minerality. This is real a crowd pleaser on a sunny day.
FOOD PAIRING: Strawberry & Ricotta Bruschetta by Alexandra Dudley
Whispering Angel
This cult wine sells in excess of one million cases annually. It is the top-selling French Provence-style rosé in the world and it is available in over a hundred countries. The United States, with its endless summer, sells over 500,000 cases alone, and it has long been synonymous with celebrities and the wealthy alike, making it an exceptionally desirable brand.
Made from a blend of Grenache, Cinsault and Rolle (Vermentino) grapes, its familiar pale colour is flirty and enticing. Aromatic on the nose, with a fine floral and fruity character of lavender, raspberry and cherry. There is a ripe and fleshy feel on the palate, with a smooth and rounded finish and no astringent aftertaste. Cleverly crafted this bone dry wine pairs well with so many foods, from barbecues to sushi.
FOOD PAIRING: Spicy Tuna Crunch Roll by Jillian Rae
Rock Angel
“Rock Angel has a more complex and structured taste profile than Whispering Angel, bringing it into a more premium realm, giving rosé lovers a bigger and richer wine. If you like the minerality of a Sancerre, you will love this wine.”
Made from a blend of Grenache Blanc/ Garnacha Blanco, Cinsault, Syrah and Tibouren. Tibouren or Rossese di Dolceacqua is a red French wine grape variety that is primarily grown in Provence and Liguria but originated in Greece.
Rock Angel is rich and racy on the palate. The use of partial oak aging adds a creamy feel and texture to this wine and the flinty minerality gives it another layer of complexity. The finish is powerful and elegant with a firm acidity and a long, silky finish.
FOOD PAIRING: Jamie Oliver’s Lamb Cutlets
