Transcending the world’s rosé category

Chateau d’Esclans is located on an exceptional site, on elevated land near the Gorges de Pennafort, twenty five kilometres northwest of the ancient Roman city of Frejus on the Mediterranean coast. 

 Château d’Esclans lies in the center of the Department of the Var, where the majority of Provence AOC rosé is produced.

The primary grape grown on the property is Grenache followed by Vermentino. Other grapes include Cinsault, Merlot, Mourvèdre, Syrah, and Tibouren. The château is known for its old Grenache vines which produce grapes that offer greater concentration of flavour than do the younger vines. As the elevation to where the lots are situated increases, so do the age of the vines. At the highest elevated lot vines are as old as 90 years.

Sacha Lichine aquired Château d’Esclans in 2006. Today there are 108 acres (44 ha) of vineyards. The total property has 659 acres (267 ha).

Château d’Esclans has been winning every rosé race in the last ten years with its wines and yet the trainer, owner Sacha Lichine, is so driven that he not only wants to win, he wants to put as much distance as possible between his mount and the pack.

Sacha Lichine, born in Bordeaux and educated in the U.S., has worked in every aspect of the Wine industry from production to final sale. Son of a prominent winemaking family in Bordeaux, Sacha applied to his new concern the exacting methods used at Chateau Prieure-Lichine. A pivotal moment for Sacha was his acquisition of Chateau d’Esclans. In keeping with his uncanny sense of innovation, Sacha felt that Rosé had strong developmental opportunities to become more serious from a production standpoint in addition to being served and consumed more broadly. The result to this foresight energised by an abiding passion for making and promoting great wine, has resulted in building a world class brand, Whispering Angel, Chateau d’Esclans Rock Angel, Chateau d’Esclans Les Clans and Chateau d’Esclans Garrus while providing a strong contribution to unprecedented growth within the Rosé category.

WHISPERING ANGEL

Whispering Angel is the world’s most famous rosé and it has an unenviable task set before it each year – to raise its own bar in order to impress all of the people who have fallen for this angel’s charms since passionate pioneer Sacha Lichine launched it over a decade ago. This property makes the finest rosés in the world.

ROCK ANGEL

The “Rock Angel” name is related to the icon of the Angels at the alter to the Whispering Angel Chapel at Château d’Esclans and, in this case, speaks to the spirit of the wine’s discerning consumer base, inspired by the L.A. lifestyle.

Sacha continues to work with Design Bridge, the world’s largest independently owned package design firm, for this project. True to its consistent form as a fine wine, Château d’Esclans “Rock Angel” is crafted through a marriage of different styles used in the making of  Château d’Esclans’ wines.

The wine is partially fermented in stainless steel and in demi muid 600L French oak barrels in a Burgundian style vinification, blending the best of both methods. Similar to Whispering Angel, the beauty of “Rock Angel” is being recognized as a superb aperitif rosé, yet with the structure and complexity characteristic of the Château’s two super premium wines, “Les Clans” and “Garrus”. The result is a more complex wine which lingers on your palate and is ultimately more food driven.

GARRUS

In 2006, Château d’Esclans produced for the first time a few barrels of rosé from a vineyard of 80-years-old vines atop a hill in provence. This barely pink rose has power and finesse.

A new chapter had begun in the world of rosé.

Château d’Esclans makes serious wines for serious wine lovers and as such they conform to all of the hallmarks of great sparkling, white, red, sweet or fortified wine.  They have exquisite fragrances, impeccable palates, heroic finishes and sensational balance.  They will also age well, too, which is not necessarily a requirement for this style of wine.