Chateau d’Esclans Whispering Angel Rosé

Product Description

Château d’Esclans is located on an exceptional site, on elevated land near the Gorges de Pennafort, twenty five kilometers northwest of the ancient Roman city of Frejus on the Mediterranean coast. The first traces of the Château’s site date back to Gaullist times during which its location served as a lookout point to spot intruders coming by boat into the Gulf of Frejus. The Château’s cellar structure or foundation (known today as the oldest in the region) housed an original Château that was given by the Comte de Provence to Gérard De Villeneuve, in 1201. The current Château, inspired by Tuscan Villa design, was built during the mid 19th century. Château d’Esclans lies in the centre of the Department of the Var, where the majority of Provence AOC rosé is produced. The land was occupied as long as 2500 years ago when it was probably used as a lookout point for intruders sailing into the Gulf of Frejus. The original Château — of which now only the cellar remains—dates back to before the 12th century. In 1201, Gérard De Villeneuve, part of a wealthy family from Marseille, took ownership of the château and the majority of the surface area of the Vallée d’Esclans that would eventually be sold off in lots. Two brothers, Sauver Louis Ranque and Francois Alexandre Ranque, were the next to own the Château, known then as Terre d’Esclans. In 1875, they sold the property to Joseph Toussaint Caussemille, who manufactured wooden matches near Marseilles. In 1955, the Perraud family owned the property until 1994. At that time, it was purchased by a Swedish pension fund that produced a small amount of wine and the remaining grapes were sold to neighbouring winemakers. Sacha Lichine aquired Château d’Esclans in 2006. Today there are 108 acres (44 ha) of vineyards. The total proprety has 659 acres (267 ha). The primary grape grown on the property is Grenache followed by Vermentino. Other grapes include Cinsault, Merlot, Mouvèrdre, Syrah, and Tibouren. The château is known for its old Grenache vines which produce grapes that offer greater concentration of flavor 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.

Beautiful colour, the palest of pale roses, a silver-pink, lovely fragrance on the nose, clean and fresh light summer fruits, a certain fleshiness and structure on the palate that shows the red grapes base, quite firm texture and fine dry finish, very clear and clean and will gain flavours during the year, while retaining fragrance and freshness.