When Sacha Lichine acquired Chateau d’Esclans he knew he had no-easy task ahead him: to educate the world about the true potential of rosé wine. Since 2006, Sacha and his team have tirelessly worked to spread one simple message: rosé truly can be a fine wine. Gone are the days of it being merely a summer tipple to be drunk while relaxing by the sea, in the present day it is now a widely respected and truly beloved beverage that can be appreciated by anyone, whether they be a connoisseur or your everyman drinker. Rated amongst some of the best wines in the world, the Chateau d’Esclans portfolio is paving the way for the rosé category to become a totally seasonless sip.
After sixteen vintages, the realization is slowly but surely starting to dawn on the world that rosé is in fact a wine that can be enjoyed with a vast array of cuisines at any time of the year. So, with the festive season around the corner, as family and friends come together to enjoy each other’s company, it is high time that a glass of rosé becomes commonplace when celebrating what has been this year, and what is to come in 2023. Whether it be cheese fondue in the Alps, hearty truffle dishes next to a warm fire or a delicious game course shared around a table of friends, the Chateau d’Esclans wines are the ultimate compliment to a seemingly endless number of traditionally wintertime treats.
So, as the winter months descend upon us, please consider this an invitation to experiment with your seasonal drink choices, whether it be around your own table or gifting a bottle to loved ones. From harvest to holidays, Chateau d’Esclans has got you covered this season.
Dillon Bass Seeks to Drive Rosé Renaissance in Northern Ireland with Whispering Angel
Drinks company Dillon Bass has added Whispering Angel – the world’s number one premium rosé – to its burgeoning wine and spirits portfolio. With a 24.4% market share, Whispering Angel has driven the ‘rosé renaissance’ in recent years, supported by high profile celebrity endorsements and sponsorships. Widely regarded as the benchmark for new rosés, Whispering Angel essentially established a category that is now worth a massive £63M globally, with premium £10+ rosés growing +58.1%, as consumers opt to enjoy blush wines all year round. The popular rosé brand was officially welcomed into the Dillon Bass wine portfolio at a special dinner for key hospitality staff at Belfast’s Waterman restaurant at the end of September (Wednesday 28 September), hosted by Whispering Angel’s UK brand ambassador, Kelly Stevenson. Chef Niall McKenna prepared an exquisite menu with dishes expertly paired to complement Whispering Angel. Dillon Bass will now begin a programme of trade engagement, events and activations to support growing consumer demand for rosé.
Speaking after the event, Laura Shiels, brand manager for Whispering Angel said: “Whispering Angel has been a gamechanger for the rosé category. From humble beginnings in 2006, the brand has grown to become the world’s number one rosé, building a whole category through its own impressive trajectory. We’re excited to amplify the stellar work the brand has been doing globally to drive the rosé renaissance here, helping consumers to enjoy a taste of ‘la vie en rosé’ in Northern Ireland.”
Whispering Angel is available to buy in leading local retail and off sales outlets across Northern Ireland, RRP £20.
In November the best wines in the world will be awarded
The place where the Wine Pinnacle Awards will be held in Singapore: Resorts World Sentosa (RWS).
From October 28 to November 1, Singapore will be the epicenter of the second edition of the Wine Pinnacle Awards , which brings together the main players in the world wine industry, to distinguish the best wines. The program also includes Masterclasses and a Symposium by leading professionals and exclusive food and wine experiences with renowned chefs. The second edition of the Wine Pinnacle Awards was delayed due to the pause that the pandemic put on major events around the world. However, the confirmation of its realization arouses great expectations and is emerging as the most anticipated wine event of the year in Southeast Asia. Once again, Resorts World Sentosa (RWS) is the venue for all activities on the Wine Pinnacle Awards programme, proving that it is one of the top dining destinations for bon vivants and wine lovers in Singapore.
The members of the WPA Technical Committee: Oz Clarke, Kenichi Ohashi, Andreas Larsson, Jeannie Cho Lee and Doug Frost.
NOMINATED WINES – WINE PINNACLE AWARDS 2022:
Comfort Pink < 40 Euros Château d’Esclans, Whispering Angel Rosé, Provence, France
Le Jardinier Debuts Summer Garden with New Happy Hour and Sunday Brunch Offerings
Miami Design District’s hidden gem and Michelin-starred French American eatery, Le Jardinier of the Bastion Collection, offers a summer garden experience in collaboration with Whispering Angel and Château d’Esclans.
Le Jardinier’s summer happy hour, available Tuesday through Thursday from 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm, transports guests to the French Riviera with themed cocktails, summer dishes, rosé pairings, and music inspired by the Côte d’Azur’s favorite summer beach clubs.
Le Jardinier’s refined yet approachable Sunday Brunch menu, available from 11:30 am to 3:30 pm, offers seasonal dishes with local ingredients, curated by Executive Chef James Friedberg. Start with the popular Golden Beet Salad, choose from a variety of sustainable seafood entrees, and share a delicious dessert – with a range of plant-based, gluten-free and vegan options to satisfy any sweet tooth.
The limited-time Sunday Magnum bottles – Whispering Angel ($70), Rock Angel ($120), and Garrus ($250) – will whisk guests away to the south of France as they sip rosé in the Château d’Esclans garden of roses. Le Jardinier’s modern, light-filled space and lush outdoor dining in its summer garden invite celebrations of every kind. Follow @lejardiniermiami for more details.
There was an increase in Burgundy trade as the week went on. Domaine Armand Rousseau Chambertin Clos de Bèze 2019, Lucien Le Moine Richebourg 2009 and Bachelet-Monnot Puligny-Montrachet 2017 all seeing activity. Château Léoville Barton 2019 led trade for Bordeaux. Trade for Champagne switched back to Louis Roderer Cristal 2008, while for US wines Screaming Eagle’s The Flight 2019 was in demand just as the Screaming Eagle 2019 was just the day before. Finally, there was also trade for the recently released Almaviva 2020 and Château d’Esclans Whispering Angel Rosé 2021 also found buyers as summer draws to a close.
Pink Rosés are not the first thing many enthusiasts think of when shopping for a bottle of wine, and many sommeliers believe that high-quality bottles of Rosé are some of the best-kept secrets in the world of wine. These light and refreshing pink wines are great by themselves without food.
Rosé wines are naturally low in tannin, as there is only limited skin contact allowed during the wine-making process. This means that drinking Rosé will not dry out the palette, making it easier to keep enjoying sip after sip!
There are a variety of different styles of Rosé, and sweetness levels can range all the way from bone dry to lusciously sweet. There are many different grapes that can be used to make these pink wines, including Grenache, Pinot Noir, Sangiovese, and Syrah.
Sweet Rosés are great for drinking after a meal and are often used as dessert wines. They are usually made using Merlot, Zinfandel, and Moscato grapes which give them a full body and rich sweetness. Sweet Rosés are usually low in acidity, making them great for new wine drinkers.
On the opposite end of the sweetness spectrum, the driest representations of Rosé are crisp and acidic, making them a fantastic option for outdoor parties and summertime enjoyment. Many wine enthusiasts look at dry Rosé as the ultimate warm weather wine without food.
The tasting notes present in Rosés are usually described as fruity, with red fruit like strawberries, cherries, and cranberry often described on the front of the palate. Citrus and melon are also commonly present, making these wines plenty complex by themselves.
Whispering Angel Rosé is one of the top-selling pink wines in the world, and it is also produced in the iconic Provence region. This dry Rosé has developed a reputation for supreme drinkability and superior value compared to many more expensive bottles from the same region.
Chateau d’Esclans Whispering Angel Rosé 2021 Cotes de Provence
Az illat itt is bátortalan, majd enyhe seprős-krémes jegyek, némi virág, citrus és gyümölcs is érezhető. A korty elegáns, enyhén krémes érzetű, puha tapintású, kerek savakra támaszkodik, inkább a textúráról szól, mint az aromákról. Mértéktartó az intenzitás, és végig az is marad, a hőmérséklet emelkedésével együtt is talán ez a bor gyújtja be legkevésbé az aromákat. Egy kevés fehér őszibarack, citrus, grapefruit, nagyon enyhe sósság, melegedve minimális piros gyümölcs tűnik fel, fanyar zárással. Jó bor, de a nagy név – és a legdrágább bor – nálam a sor végén zárt. 6p- (8700 Ft – Bortársaság)
Château d’Esclans Recognized and Decorated at The Drinks Business Global Rosé Masters 2022
The Chateau d’Esclans team are thrilled to once again have been recognized in the Global Rosé Masters, and with 5 of our wines no less. Judged by an illustrious panel of 7 wine experts, this year including 5 Masters of Wine as well as Master Sommeliers and senior buyers, this competition is globally renowned.
Whispering Angel ’21 and Rock Angel ’20 were awarded Gold medals respectively, while Les Clans ’20 and Garrus ’20 were both celebrated with the ultimate accolade of ‘Master’ – the only two wines in Oaked Dry Rose category to achieve this feat.
Further to that, amongst the 6 wines recognized as The best rosés over £25 for drinking this summer, Rock Angel, Les Clans and Garrus were chosen. Patrick Schmitt explains that this particular list is comprised of the ‘greatest still pink wines on the planet at present’. In a similar fashion, Whispering Angel was also identified amongst The best rosés under £25 for drinking this summer.
Whispering Angel 2021 wins Gold £ 15- £ 20 S till Unoa ked Dry Rosé
Significant production growth for this success story of a pink wine brand has not diminished the quality, or so it seems for Provence’s Whispering Angel, which came out as a class leader, picking up a Gold in this year’s blind tasting. It’s an excellent example of a pale dry rosé, mixing soft ripe fruit with a chalky dry refreshing edge. In terms of flavour profile, there’s white-fleshed peach and pear followed by redcurrant, citrus zest and a delicate herbal edge to bring additional interest to the persistent finish. (Patrick Schmitt MW)
Rock Angel 2020 wins Gold £ 20- £ 30 Oa ked Dry Rosé
From the 147 hectares of vines at the Château d’Esclans estate comes this really delicious, gently oaked rosé wine. Located near the Golfe de Fréjus on stony soils, old Grenache vines deliver. Augmented by Vermentino (Rolle), a traditional variety in Provence (and Corsica) and Cinsault, the wine has a typical pale peach-pink colour. The delicate peach stone and redcurrant aromatics have just a hint of creamy vanilla-bean wood. Mid-weight and just dry, the wine has beautifully defined flavours and a gentle lift of white pepper and allspice. Elegant and well-balanced with very good length, this is a delightful wine for summer (and autumn) drinking on its own or with chicken or pork. (Patricia Stefanowicz MW)
Les Cl ans wins ‘Ma ster’ accol ade in £ 50- £ 70 Oa ked Dry Rosé
The baby Garrus from Château d’Esclans, called Les Clans, gives a taste of skilfully crafted, barrel-influenced rosé for half the price of the range topper – and therefore, offers brilliant value relative to Garrus, even if it doesn’t quite match the quality. What you get with Les Clans is wonderful ripe yellow stone fruit, along with notes of orange blossom and pear, complemented by cashew nuts and toast, a touch of creaminess, and then some chalky-textured phenolic grip on the finish, giving this a dry, refreshing edge. (Patrick Schmitt MW)
Garrus wins ‘Ma ster’ accol ade in £ 100 + Oa ked Dry Rosé
When it comes to Garrus, the original is still the best. This was the first rosé to be made like a fine white Burgundy or Bordeaux blanc – fermented and aged in a mixture of new and used oak barrels to create a wine with a creamy taste and texture, and the potential to age and develop over time after bottling. It was also the brand that started the category of luxury rosés, as the first non-sparkling pink drink to retail for more than £100 a bottle. And it was the best-performer in the inaugural Global Rosé Masters, and has consistently been the highest-scorer in this competition. The appeal lies in its brilliantly-balanced mix of ripe fruit, fine oak, and freshness. One sip, and the wine gradually unfolds, revealing flavours of peach and pear, pomegranate and pink grapefruit, then orange zest mingling with creamy vanilla and toasted marshmallow. As for the feel of this rosé, there’s a slight richness to the wine, with an oily weight to it, but a bone dry, chalk and citrus finish, which ensures it still serves as a refreshing rosé. (Patrick Schmitt MW)
Terre Blanche fuses the romance of Provence with the sexy ambience of the Côte D’Azur
…and the home of Whispering Angel is just around the corner!
By Bianca London
In an attempt to avoid a divorce mere days after tying the knot, we decided to opt for a shorter European minimoon. Enter: Terre Blanche, a 750(!)-acre eco-luxury property fusing the charm, character, and romance of Provence with the sexy ambience of the Côte D’Azur. The hotel owners pride Terre Blanche as being ‘the ultimate family and baby friendly holiday due to its accessible yet exclusive location, array of food offerings and diverse experiences for all ages’. And they’re not bluffing.
Whilst it may feel in the middle of nowhere, no excursion is too complicated to pull off for the concierge at Terre Blanche. Whether you want to explore the higgledy-piggledy hilltop villages in Pays de Fayence, meet the small local producers, go horse riding or take a helicopter to St Tropez for lunch, no request is too demanding. As a self-proclaimed unofficial Whispering Angel ambassador, I couldn’t leave without making a trip to Chateau d’Esclans – the home of Whispering Angel and the most magical property. We were lucky enough to be treated to a private visit and tasting with the imitable Director of Communications, Thomas Schreckinger, where you’ll learn about Domaines Sacha Lichine’s highly regarded viticulture and wine making practices while taking in the incredible estate, followed by the all-important and very comprehensive tasting of the world-famous pale pink wines. With his acquisition of the Château in 2006, Sacha Lichine’s vision was to create the greatest rosés in the world, igniting the “Rosé Renaissance” – I think it’s safe to say ‘job done’.
The rise, swell and sweep of the pink wave is one of the most remarkable reversals of fortune the wine world has seen. Why? Because rosé wines struggled to be taken seriously for the longest time.
While rosés and light, translucent red wines have been around for centuries, in the late 18th and early 19th century they started to lose their lustre. The better red winemaking techniques became, the more paler red and pink wines suffered. Next to fuller-coloured reds, they were seen as weaker in every respect: colour, structure, appeal – and seriousness. The fact that some rosé wines were commercially successful, affordable and popular did nothing to improve that image. Just think of Mateus Rosé. While rosés brought joy to many, their popularity and pricing made them easy to dismiss despite historic styles like Tavel, Bandol and Provençal rosé – all from the south of France. Pink was considered frivolous: why would you age or elevate rosé wine? How could something so beautiful to look at be serious? But now its fortunes have changed. Something happened that shifted the way we think about pink wines. The Observatoire Mondial du Rosé’s report notes a “dramatic” rise of 20 percent since 2002. While France, Spain and Italy still dominate rosé production, South Africa has doubled and New Zealand quadrupled their rosé production. They also note that “the average price of rosé sold around the world continues to climb.” The figures for sparkling rosé are no less impressive, but more of that later.
The turning point
Things had changed by the turn of the millennium: viticulture and winemaking had made immense strides. But, as is often the case, it took outsiders to make a difference. In 2006 Franco-American Sacha Lichine bought Château d’Esclans in Provence. Lichine had deep knowledge of the international wine markets: his father, Alexis Lichine, an influential American wine merchant and author had owned Château Prieuré-Lichine in Margaux, Bordeaux. Lichine junior had an uncanny sense of timing and a singular aim: to make Provençal rosé a fine wine and to create a world-famous brand – Whispering Angel. He made 130,000 bottles of his inaugural 2006 vintage. A decade later in 2016 that had grown to three million bottles and output has grown steadily ever since. A sprinkling of Hollywood stardust also helped Provençal rosé. Celebrity couple Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt bought Château Miraval in Provence in 2008. In 2013 they debuted their 2012 vintage and it became a sell-out. Crucially, both Whispering Angel and Miraval were taken seriously by critics – because they were well made wines.
Provençal pioneers
The combined success of Château d’Esclans and Miraval also turned the spotlight on far more established rosé producers like Domaines Ott. The family had pioneered quality production and their iconic, amphora-shaped rosé bottle had reached cult status among the glitterati on their yachts along the Côte d’Azur – but only niche markets beyond. “My family has been making rosé for more than 120 years now,” says Jean-Francois Ott, general director at Domaines Ott. “The consumer attitude towards rosé has changed significantly. My family has been working tirelessly to raise awareness that rosés can be at the same level as the best white and red wines.” It was Domaines Ott who had perfected that bone-dry, pale elegance that is equated with Provençal rosé today.
“I think that until the 90s, the market for quality rosé was a niche. Today it has expanded significantly, and consumer awareness has increased massively. The real evolution of the category is linked to quality – and that means it is going to last.”
Rosé as a fine wine Domaines Ott always made a point of expressing their different locations: Château de Selle on limestone, Clos Mireille on schist and Château Romassan on chalk, sandstone and marl. For them, rosé always was a wine that expressed site, like the best red and white wines. However, it was Lichine who took the idea much further by introducing the idea of an ultra-premium rosé. Garrus, the top wine at Esclans, is made mainly from a four-hectare high-altitude parcel of 100-year-old Grenache vines called La Garenne. Lichine also clearly segmented his offer: while Whispering Angel is vinified completely in stainless steel, the next wine up is Rock Angel. Thirty percent of it is fermented in individually temperature-controlled 600-litre oak barrels, the next step up, Château d’Esclans in 50 percent oak while both Les Clans and Garrus, the two top wines, are fully fermented in oak, with the proportion of new oak higher for Garrus. Everyone can taste the difference, the increasing concentration and textural complexity. Illustrating this so clearly enabled Lichine to price the wines accordingly – making Garrus the world’s first rosé wine retailing at over £100. This has since been eclipsed by Gérard Bertrand’s Clos du Temple rosé from Languedoc launched in 2018 but Garrus paved the way for rosé to enter the fine wine market and to be taken seriously as such. It created a whole new category of ultra-premium rosés, like Domaines Ott’s ceramic-aged Etoile, launched in 2020 and Miraval’s oak-aged Muse. Another sure sign of rosé’s elevation to fine wine status was evident in 2019 when global luxury powerhouse Moët-Hennessy acquired both a 55 percent stake in Château d’Esclans and bought another Provence property dedicated to rosé production, Château Galoupet.
Pale, paler, palest This spectacular reversal of fortunes has not only meant investment in the region but a re-assessment of pink wines across the board. Supermarket shelves now brim in all shades of rosé – even though the vast majority of them aspire to be as pale as the Provençal market leader. Where once existed the misconception that rosé could not be a serious wine, now the idea prevails that a rosé has to be pale in order to be good quality. This could not be more wrong. Rosé wines in every shade of pink – from barely there to lusciously deep – are thus a playground for explorers. Exciting rosés are now made around the world – all we can tell you is to think and drink pink.
Europe’s classic rosés: France Rosé wines can be made from any red grape. Since rosé wines are made across Europe, from numerous grape varieties, there is a wide spectrum of styles informed by various grape varieties and climates. With 27,219 hectares of vineyards, Provence makes 42 percent of France’s rosé – and 91 percent of Provence production is pink, amounting to more than 150 million bottles.
Provençal rosés are mainly made from Grenache, Mourvèdre, Cinsault and Tibouren but Carignan, Counoise, Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah are also used, as are white grapes like Clairette, Grenache Blanc and Rolle. The wines are dry and usually pale, capitalising on vivid citrus flavours. Bandol, an appellation within Provence, allows the same grape varieties but is famous for Mourvèdre, a late-ripening, thick-skinned grape, lending structure, spice and ageing potential. Tavel in the southern Rhône is probably France’s most historic and distinct rosé, an appellation dedicated entirely to rosé. Although tiny at just 904 hectares, it was France’s first appellation for rosé wine, given AOC status in 1936. Ernest Hemingway, for instance, was a big fan. Nine grape varieties are permitted and the wines are full-flavoured and deep-coloured, ideal for the robust, southern French flavours of bouillabaisse or grand aioli. If you have only tried pale rosé, you simply must graduate to this gastronomic, complex style. Another Rhône appellation with significant rosé production is Luberon and over in Languedoc, almost a fifth of the wines made are pink – from numerous varieties and across numerous appellations. The Loire valley also has a rosé track record: Sancerre rosé is made from Pinot Noir and is usually delicate, light and bone-dry. Further downstream, other styles take over, at different sweetness levels: Rosé de Loire, Rosé d’Anjou and Cabernet d’Anjou, are variously made from Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Grolleau, Pineau d’Aunis, Gamay and Pinot Noir.
The world’s love affair with rosé is set to continue. Two reasons are paramount: rosé is no longer seen as just a summer wine and has year-round appeal. It has also moved on from perceptions of frivolousness and is enjoyed across genders. You only need to look at supermarket shelves, wine bars or restaurant tables: they shimmer in all shades of pink.
