An undeniable reference for great Provence rosés, the prestigious Château d'Esclans has established itself on the international scene with cuvées that have become emblematic, such as the famous Garrus, Les Clans, Whispering Angel, and Rock Angel. Discover the history, terroir, and expertise of Château d'Esclans.
Location and size of Château d'Esclans vineyard
Nestled in an exceptional setting in the Esclans Valley, in Provence, the eponymous estate is located on a hillside, near the Gorges de Pennafort, 25 kilometers from Fréjus. The estate watches over a terroir of more than 260 hectares, including 74 hectares of vineyards.
A history with ancestral origins
From the Gallic era, nearly 2000 years ago, an observation post at the location of the current château was erected to monitor and prevent any potential maritime invasions in the Gulf of Fréjus.
Foundations dating from the 13th century
The magnificent vaulted cellars of the château are reputed to be the oldest in Provence. The current foundations of the château as well as the cellars are those that already existed at the time of the domain's cession by the Count of Provence to Gérard de Villeneuve in 1201.
A Tuscan-inspired château built in the 19th century
While remnants of the medieval château are still visible today, it was in the mid-19th century that the château as we know it today was built. Its architecture is inspired by the style of Tuscan villas, the emblematic region of central Italy. The brothers Sauveur Louis and François Alexandre Ranque subsequently became owners of this estate then called "Terre d'Esclans". Between 1875 and 2006, the estate passed through the hands of several owners.
A dazzling renaissance with Sacha Lichine from 2006
It was in 2006 that Château d'Esclans opened a new page in its history. Following the sale in 1999 of his property, Château Prieuré-Lichine located in the Margaux appellation in Bordeaux, Sacha Lichine decided to search for a southern vineyard.
Convinced of Provence's potential and a true pioneer, Sacha Lichine carried the ambition to inspire a true "rosé renaissance" by creating a high-end rosé that, through its delicate alliance between finesse, freshness, structure, and aromatic richness, would have everything of a great wine.
From then on, Sacha Lichine began several years of searching for the exceptional terroir. After visiting about thirty wine properties, he acquired Château d'Esclans in 2006, a property magnificently situated between Cannes and Saint-Tropez.
Over the vintages and at the price of a constant and uncompromising qualitative quest, Sacha Lichine allowed the estate to become an essential reference among the greatest wines of Provence, internationally recognized for its extreme quality.
An illustrious property turned toward the future
At the end of 2019, the LVMH Group acquired 55% of the estate. Through this alliance, Sacha Lichine and the French luxury group open a new chapter in the property's history aimed at continuing development beyond borders of this premium rosé range.
Everything you need to know about Château d'Esclans terroir
Situation and exposure
With an estate of 267 hectares including 74 hectares of vineyard, Château d'Esclans watches over an exceptional viticultural heritage. Composed notably of old vines aged over 90 years, the vineyard brings together a great variety of typical Provence grape varieties such as grenache, vermentino, cinsault, mourvèdre, merlot, syrah, and tibouren.
Geology: diversity in service of great wines
Aged 35 years on average, the vines are planted on vineyards composed, according to plots, of clays, limestones, or sandy gravels. This mosaic of terroirs ensures great diversity of characters for these great Côtes de Provence wines.
Ideal climatology
Provence enjoys a Mediterranean climate, characterized by hot and dry summers, strong sunshine, and low precipitation.
Vinification
The estate's rosé wines result from a search for excellence as well as exceptional expertise in the vineyard and cellar, but also from the use of cutting-edge technology tools. Oenologist for many years at Château Mouton Rothschild, Grand Cru Classé de Pauillac, Patrick Léon contributed through his expertise to the qualitative development of Château d'Esclans wines.
To preserve maximum freshness, harvesting is carried out at dawn and until noon, by hand for Château d'Esclans cuvées. The cuvées of Caves d'Esclans négociant wines (Whispering Angel) are made from mechanically harvested grapes.
The grapes undergo manual and optical sorting to keep only the most beautiful berries, subsequently transferred to a heat exchanger that lowers the temperature to 8°C. The pressing stage will obtain three different types of juice: free-run juice, heart of press, and end of press. Following this stage, a selection will be made to differentiate juices that will be fermented in stainless steel tanks or conversely, aged in barrels. Sacha Lichine pays particular attention to his wines' color, which must be of a pale hue.
Following regular tastings by the technical team, the blends of Château d'Esclans and Caves d'Esclans wines are crafted with the greatest care. Finally, bottling is carried out directly at the château.
The style of Château d'Esclans wines
In a few years, Château d'Esclans cuvées have established themselves as true stars of rosé wines.
The eponymous rosé of Château d'Esclans
Made from grenache, rolle, syrah, cinsault, and tibouren, the rosé wine signed by Château d'Esclans is distinguished by its finesse as well as its broad aromatic palette.
The refinement of a singular rosé wine
The Les Clans cuvée from Château d'Esclans has become a reference among great gastronomic rosé wines. The wine seduces with its aromatic intensity, richness in the mouth, and flavorful texture. A powerful, elegant, and complex wine.
Garrus, focus on one of the world's most expensive rosés
Garrus from Château d'Esclans is a wine that has become iconic over the vintages. Indeed, at the time of its release, Garrus was the most expensive rosé wine in the world. Sacha Lichine reminds that behind this wine's high price lies an economic reality with equally high costs. Rare, the Garrus cuvée is made from old grenache vines, some of which are over 90 years old. Yields are therefore low and harvesting is done exclusively by hand. Garrus undergoes barrel aging in demi-muids with a barrel park renewed 70% each year. Captivating, passionate, and resolutely atypical, Garrus has become through its great quality one of the world's greatest premium rosés.
Whispering Angel, an irresistible Côtes de Provence rosé
A négociant wine from Caves d'Esclans, the Whispering Angel cuvée is made from local vineyards and Château d'Esclans wines. Whispering Angel has become one of the world's most famous rosé wines. A refreshing rosé wine with dense and smooth texture, resolutely delicious.
Rock Angel, the complexity of a deliciously rock rosé
Following rigorous selection, the grapes are partially vinified in tanks and barrels. Rock Angel seduces with its aromatic intensity. The bouquet offers brilliant notes of fruits and citrus while the mouth, unctuous, reveals a silky and flavorful texture.
Delicious food and wine pairings
Through their structure and power, the signed cuvées of Château d'Esclans are an invitation to a singular tasting moment, during an aperitif or accompanied by gastronomic dishes. Let yourself be taken on an exceptional oenological journey to the heart of Provence by discovering our range of exceptional rosés from Château d'Esclans.
