Peering into our crystal ball instead of our crystal decanter.
By Mike Desimone and Jeff Jenssen
Rosé Is Going Haute
Drinking rosé throughout the year has gone from trend to permanent status, and we will see more and more premium offerings entering the market. We’ve been expecting to see luxury competition for pioneers in the space such as Domaine Ott, Château d’Esclans, and Gérard Bertrand for some time, and LVMH’s major investment in Château Minuty earlier this year sealed the deal as far as we’re concerned. Expanded—and pricier—rosé selections are on their way to a restaurant near you.
The weekly series continues next week, offering guests the opportunity to “mix, mingle, laugh, and learn” in a relaxed setting
Floral designer Lewis Miller presented at The Colony Hotel’s Living Room Series on December 20. Photo by Capehart
This fall, The Colony Hotel in Palm Beach unveiled The Living Room Series, a weekly conversation and demonstration series with local luminaries and creatives. Presented in partnership with Whispering Angel and Palm Beach Illustrated, the Wednesday evening fetes offer guests the opportunity to “mix, mingle, laugh, and learn” in a laid-back, sophisticated setting.
INTERVIEW: ALEX DIARD, CHATEAU D’ESCLANS’ GLOBAL BRAND AMBASSADOR, TAKES US INSIDE SACHA LICHINE’S NEWEST TRIUMPH — THE PALE ROSÉ
By Merasturda
The extraordinary French winemaker Sacha Lichine has once again redefined the category with The Pale Rosé. Named after its transparent, pink color, The Pale by Sacha Lichine embodies all the characteristics of an authentic rosé from Provence. Lichine is the mastermind behind the most famous producer of all Provencal wines, Château d’Esclans.
Hamptons Social spoke with Alex Diard, Brand Ambassador at Château d’Esclans, about The Pale Rosé (Whispering Angel’s young, fresh sister rosé). He shared insight on the connection between rosé and the Hamptons, how he was influenced by growing up in Aix En Provence, the birthplace of rosé, and what he has learned from working closely with the iconic Lichine.
How has the release of The Pale Rosé redefined the category of rosé?
The Pale Rosé is the latest creation of Sacha Lichine, the man who brought us Whispering Angel. The Pale is contributing to the increased popularity, awareness, and interest in rosé wine that is accessible all year around and has a Provence-style influence. With an eclectic label and screw cap, this rosé is made for everyone to enjoy in any and all settings whether you are hosting a party or simply enjoying a glass with your dinner.
What does someone have to look forward to when they open a bottle of The Pale Rosé?
Upon looking at the bottle, The Pale Rosé is unique, chic, and festive, leaving an amazing first impression before the liquid hits the lips. It immediately captures your attention and promises a fun time. The wine, itself, is a seriously made rosé but was created to be accessible to both avid wine enthusiasts and beginners alike. It’s bright, elegant, and refreshing. You have the satisfaction of the fruits without the sweetness that some other rosés have.
What is one of the most important lessons you have learned from working closely with Sacha Lichine?
I’ve grown both personally and professionally through my work with Sacha Lichine and his team over the years. One of the most important lessons I’ve learned from Sacha, is to be persistent and to not give up. Sacha Lichine had one vision – to make rosé a “real” wine when the category was nonexistent. By leading and inspiring professionals around him, he made that vision turned into a global success story.
How were you influenced by growing up in Aix En Provence, the birthplace of rosé?
Naturally, it means a lot to me since I was born and raised in Provence. I do have some sweet memories growing up when we had family gatherings on Sundays around a delicious lunch, there were always a few bottles of rosé on the table. The quality back then wasn’t as elevated or precise as it is today. It has been quite fantastic to witness the evolution over the years, in quality and popularity beyond the region.
What do you think about the connection between rosé and the Hamptons?
For many, The Hamptons is an oasis from a busy city life and a place to escape for rest and relaxation with friends and family. I believe rosé became a go-to choice for many residents and well-traveled visitors mainly because of the similarity of lifestyle in the French Riviera. Throughout Antibes, Cannes, Monaco, and Saint Tropez, rosé is associated with the upscale and leisure lifestyle of the area. Life is enjoyed on the beach, by the pool, or on a boat with friends and family. It is simply a celebration of life. The same can be said for The Hamptons.
How has rose evolved over the last decade and what do you foresee for the future?
Over the last decade, the rosé category has experienced significant evolution in terms of production techniques and popularity. I believe the future will remain on this dynamic incline with premiumization as consumers are looking for a more refined wine experience without forgetting “la joie de vivre” – the enjoyment of life.
Enchanting Selection: Top 10 Best Wines for Christmas 2023 – A Festive Journey 🎄
The top 10 best red wines, top 10 best wine wines, top 10 best rose wines and top 10 sparkling wines of 2023, listed only for you to celebrate Christmas 2023 properly as a wine lover.
By Merasturda
Whether you’re a seasoned maestro of the vine, a disciple of Dionysus, or a neophyte yearning for vinous wisdom, this exhaustive guide to the crème de la crème of Christmas 2023 wines shall be your trusty comrade. Let’s embark on this palate-pleasing odyssey together!
These extraordinary vintages have ensnared the affections and discerning tastes of enthusiasts, presenting a symphony of tradition and avant-garde innovation.
From the sun-drenched vineyards of Napa Valley to the time-honored châteaux of Bordeaux and the undulating hills of Tuscany, these wines personify the craftsmanship and fervor of their creators. Join us as we revel in the glory of the 10 finest wines of 2023, where each sip is an invitation to immerse oneself in a realm of refined taste.
In the grand tradition of Dionysian festivities and Apollonian judgments, let us commence a journey, a pilgrimage if you will, through the sacred vineyards and mystical cellars housing the world’s preeminent wines. The year 2023, destined to be etched in vinicultural history for begetting vintages that sing the terroir’s song, beckons us to explore its pinnacle: the top 10 wines. This isn’t a mere list; it’s a tapestry interwoven with the golden strands of tradition and the silver filaments of innovation.
Revealing the Eminent Wines of 2023
Unveiling the paramount wines of 2023 lays bare the unrivaled quality and diversity of this year’s selections. These vinous masterpieces have been meticulously curated for their extraordinary characteristics, earning them the coveted title of top wine picks. Bestowed with accolades from industry maestros (although we’re not overly concerned with accolades here; it doesn’t sway our scoring much), these award-winning wines solidify their standing as unparalleled choices.
Whether you’re a seasoned aficionado or a casual wine wanderer, these wine proclamations are poised to astonish. From robust Cabernet Sauvignons to intricate and graceful Pinot Noirs, there exists a libation for every discerning palate. Dive into the vinous cosmos with these top wines of 2023 and elevate your oenophilic journey with these exceptional selections. #VinousVoyage #WineWonders
Unveiling the paramount wines of 2023 lays bare the unrivaled quality and diversity of this year’s selections. These vinous masterpieces have been meticulously curated for their extraordinary characteristics, earning them the coveted title of top wine picks. Bestowed with accolades from industry maestros (although we’re not overly concerned with accolades here; it doesn’t sway our scoring much), these award-winning wines solidify their standing as unparalleled choices.
Whether you’re a seasoned aficionado or a casual wine wanderer, these wine proclamations are poised to astonish. Dive into the vinous cosmos with these top wines of 2023 and elevate your oenophilic journey with these exceptional selections. 🌐✨ #VinousVoyage #WineWonders 🍇📚
Tasting Notes: This Provençal rosé is a crowd-pleaser with its charming bouquet of red berries and citrus fruits. The palate is light and refreshing, making it perfect for sipping poolside or enjoying at a picnic.
Indulge in the world of exceptional rose wines and discover the joy they bring to your wine collection and your palate.
The perfect complement to your Holiday SOIRÉE, Celebrate the Season with the the world’s most glamorous rosé
In essence, Whispering Angel Rosé is not just a wine; it’s a journey from the sun-soaked vineyards of Provence to the heartwarming moments of the holiday season. From the first harvest to the joyous act of gifting, each bottle carries the spirit of craftsmanship and glamour, turning ordinary moments into extraordinary memories.
Whether it’s shared around a festive table, gifted at a holiday gathering, or tasted during a cozy evening by the fireplace, Whispering Angel Rosé enhances the spirit of the season. Its versatile nature makes it a delightful companion to a variety of dishes, from Thanksgiving feasts to New Year’s Eve celebrations.
Why rosé is the perfect winter drink
Whispering Angel makes a compelling argument for adding a bottle of rosé to your Christmas shopping list
Think of rosé, and you’ll probably imagine summer afternoons in the park, or stiflingly hot days in pub gardens. You’re unlikely to picture sophisticated après ski scenes in the French Alps, a festive feast with family and friends, or the wine menu of a fine dining restaurant. Whispering Angel, part of Chateau d’Esclans, is determined to change that.
“For a long time,” explains Sacha Lichine, Whispering Angel’s founder, “rosé was considered to be cheap and cheerful: it was something you would drink on the Riviera, or in the summer with some ice on the beach, and it would probably give you a headache.” He also mentions that a certain machismo has previously kept many men from enjoying rosé. “Before, men sort of beat on their chest and had to drink big burgundies, things like that. [For rosé] it was mostly a female consumer.” The mission, as he saw it, was to change both these misconceptions. “Our adventure was to make this into ‘real wine’, and to get up in the bigger leagues as far as the quality was concerned.”
He certainly succeeded. The brand turned to the greatest winemaker in the business – the late Patrick Léon was its founding consulting oenologist, and his son Bertrand remains Chateau d’Esclans’ technical director to this day – in order to elevate rosé to the status it deserved. Sourcing from renowned vineyards across Provence and experimenting with a blend of modern and traditional techniques, the brand created Whispering Angel. A versatile, elegant, and sophisticated wine, it’s become a favourite of celebrities (including the Beckhams and Adele) and sommeliers alike.
Having conquered the preconceptions about what a rosé can be, Whispering Angel’s founder is now embarking on a similarly audacious mission: to deseasonalise what’s always been seen as a summer drink. “Wine is what’s in the bottle, and what’s in the bottle speaks,” Lichine says. Crisp and light, with a delicate flavour profile of red berries and floral notes, it’s an eminently drinkable wine that’s perfect to pass around at Christmas parties or New Year’s Eve celebrations in place of prosecco. Best enjoyed slightly chilled – between 7 and 13C, the brand says – it’s a welcome alternative to richer, more cloying mulled wine.
Parties aside, it’s also an excellent dinner choice, Lichine says, pairing particularly well with white meat such as turkey. “Because it begins white and finishes red, I think it marries well with a huge variety of foods. Much more than some of the very big reds, which can be highly tannic: at the end of the day, you feel like you have a meal in your glass.” At Christmas, a time when gluttony is almost compulsory, filling up on liquids is far from ideal.
If you’re still not convinced by the winter potential of Whispering Angel, just head down to Somerset House’s skating rink. Now in its 24th year, this grand outdoor ice rink is a staple festive outing for Londoners. This winter, it has partnered with Whispering Angel for the Skate Lounge: a chic ski chalet where, after zipping around on the ice, you’ll be able to relax with a glass of the crisp rosé or a specially created cocktail.
Speaking to Lichine, it’s clear that making a good rosé – or a good wine in general – is akin to bottling lightning. “If you think of the dinners you’ve been to and the amount of bottles of wine on the table, the one that’s empty is usually the best – the better tasting, the easier to drink, the most friendly, the most charming. So you have to find all of that and put it in a bottle.”
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The saying “the best view comes after the hardest climb” was validated on Sunday as the Jamaica Food + Drink Festival Brunch In The Hills team reintroduced their sponsors, key clients, and festival devotees to yet another of the country’s hidden gems: White Mist at Peter’s Rock.
The winding trek from Norbrook to Peter’s Rock — a peak in Woodford, St Andrew — was, for want of a better word, rocky, but the breathtaking vistas on arrival were worth every bump in the road.
The magnificent array of culinary delights aptly labelled brunch bites courtesy of Trevanne Donegal for Visa and well-appointed Select Brands bars were welcome sights, as too, the misty cityscape in the background. Guests settled readily in the spectacular setting which was further enhanced by Shikima Hinds and team for Events Concierge.
Brunch wrapped with two patrons walking away with paintings by Jamaican artist Alphanso Blake courtesy of NCB Capital Markets.
Alex Diard (right), business development manager from the famed Chateau D’Esclans, introduced Carreras Limited Chairman Patrick Smith (left) and Seprod Group of Companies CEO Richard Pandohie to the three-litre bottle of Whispering Angel Rosé. (Photo: Garfield Robinson)Select Brands Luxury Portfolio Manager Debra Taylor Smith sipped Whispering Angel Rosé while delighting in the stunning views from Peter’s Rock. (Photo: Garfield Robinson)
Slice of Life: Louis Poulsen launches the Pale Rose collection, the new Apple Watch Series 9 and more
By Jesslyn Lye, Janice Sim and Amelia Chia
As the end of the year approaches, a plethora of intriguing ventures and brand launches offers plenty to look forward to. On the culinary front, the new Whispering Angel Vintage 2022 rosé proves the perfect gastronomic companion for summertime culinary experiences.
There have been many estates in recent years that have tried to push rosé into the premium category, but few have been as successful as Château D’Esclans, Sacha Lichine’s Provence estate that is in the final throes of a takeover by LVMH. To try and unravel some of the secrets of its success, both with Whispering Angel and its super-premium wines including Rock Angel, Château D’Esclans, Les Clans and Garrus, The Buyer’s Victor Smart travelled to St Tropez to meet up with global marketing director Paul Chevalier and taste and rate the new wines.
By Victor Smart
“Les Clans reminds me of a Burgundy. Garrus reminds me of vintage Champagne without the bubbles – an old bottle of Champagne that has been sitting there for 30 years,” says Château d’Esclans’ Paul Chevalier.
Château d’Esclans was acquired in 2006 with the aim of making the greatest rosés in the world
Even those who have built a global rosé brand worth hundreds of millions may still hanker for the cachet accorded to traditional, stuffier French wine regions. Thus, as Château d’Esclans nudges buyers of Whispering Angel to trade up to pricier wines in its range, its comparators are not just the likes of Sancerre but august names like Meursault. If that seems heresy to purists, it may be time to recognise that the rosé category has moved from poolside onto serious wine and is now hellbent on moving up the ladder to full connoisseur status.
Château d’Esclans, founded by the legendary American-educated Sasha Lichine, is bracing itself for prestige goods firm LVMH to complete its extended takeover. Already, when we visit the Côte de Provence estate there is a young man from HQ with the demeanour of a management consultant discussing strategy. Who knows, but celebrity chefs may soon be onsite catering for guests helicoptered in from St Tropez.
Global marketing director Paul Chevalier took The Buyer through Château d’Esclans’ full range
But, for the moment, it is still the existing team, such as global marketing director Paul Chevalier, which guides us through the tasting of the seven-wine range. On his CV, Chevalier – who splits much of his time between Florida and a farm in the Pyrenees – has lustrous names like Veuve Clicquot, Château Margaux and Cloudy Bay.
The name Whispering Angel was inspired by a relief of two winged figures high above the altar in the château’s chapel. Rivers of gold have been spun from the brand, originally tailored for the US market where it is the biggest-selling French wine.
The d’Esclans team shows a massive attention to detail underpinned by sophisticated technology. The winery pioneered barrel-fermented luxury rosé. Those wines aged in barrels are individually monitored and each kept at a precise temperature. Meanwhile, an optical sorter scrutinises each grape to eliminate any defects. There’s loads of dosh for investment, of course. But, in addition, another key to success is that a tried and tested approach is applied across a range of wines retailing at hugely different prices, riffing on a medley of Grenache, Rolle (aka Vermentino), Syrah and Cinsault.
One of the Château d’Esclans wines aimed at a younger demographic
At the bottom of the range are two cheapish wines designed to whet the appetites of younger, poorer drinkers. The Pale retails for around £15 a bottle and The Beach for a pound or two more. The first is more urban, and the second more relaxed and poolside.
In the middle of the range comes the phenomenon that is Whispering Angel (£22 retail). This is the staple, of course, made in steel tanks from Grenache, Cinsault and Rolle. The sheer scale of its success seems to have been a surprise even to the likes of Chevalier. He points to the fruit, its mouthfeel and viscosity as key attractions behind the “satisfaction” it delivers. This has validated the winery’s basic approach for the whole range.
“The idea is that Grenache is hypothetically our Pinot Noir and Rolle is our Chardonnay, and we blend the two. We tend to use as much as we can of the Rolle which adds to the viscosity and aromatics while Grenache gives us structure and fruit”. Cinsault doesn’t add or take away very much but is a good blender; that grape disappears as you go up the range.
This takes us on to our main business here – the four pricier wines: Rock Angel, Château d’Esclans, Les Clans and Garrus. All of these use estate grapes and are aged in oak for varying periods.
Rock Angel (we’re tasting the 2022 at £24 retail) is around 55% grapes from the estate with around a quarter aged in oak barrels – something that gives it more body than the unoaked Whispering. “Rock has more weight and more length with more rocky minerality. There’s more going on – we’re looking at the Sancerre consumer who wants to change it up.”
For the rest of the wines we move to the 2021 vintages as the better wines takes longer to open up. Château d’Esclans(retail £35) is principally Grenache with about 30% Rolle, but with about half aged in oak and with more time in the barrel. The aim here is more precision and elegance. “Why if you were a consumer, would you choose this?”, asks Chevalier rhetorically. “Because you are into St Aubin or Pouilly Fuissé and hence into specific styles. So you want something more, and there are few other options.”
Moving on to the prestige cuvée level there are two styles. Les Clans (retail £50) is a Grenache/Rolle blend from old vines on the estate and is 100% barrel fermented. On the palate there are pineapple and ginger notes with hints of black liquorice.
Each barrel has its temperature continuously monitored and kept constant
Putting rosé juice into an oak barrel for a year and leaving it there was frankly experimental. Chevalier says: “We didn’t even know how to sell it because it was so expensive. So we said, why don’t we talk to people who understand white Burgundies like Mersault, vintage champagne, or expensive Californian Chardonnays. So it became a small batch rosé for a consumer that didn’t exist in a category that was totally misunderstood.”
Finally, we come to Garrus which has the same basic recipe but which is made from the oldest, choicest vines including a single parcel of nearly 100 year old Grenache vines. With rich, spicy notes and a creamy finish, the emphasis here is concentration.
“Garrus has more power, structure and body. Les Clans reminds me of a Burgundy. Garrus reminds me of vintage champagne without the bubbles – an old bottle of champagne that has been sitting there for thirty years.”
The top wine has variously scored from 93 to 96 points. It has a bold price of £140 which was the world’s most expensive pink ‘un until Gerard Bertrand launched Clos du Temple. How much further can once-derided rosé go in competing with the stars in the old firmament of French wines? We shall see.
Two peas in a pod: Paul Chevalier and The Buyer’s Victor Smart (r-l) with the Whispering Angel cherubs above the chapel
