Caves D’Esclans Whispering Angel Rosé 2023

Product Information:

A delightful pale pink, so pleasing to the eye it draws you in. Or is it the whispering angels? Sourced from the best vineyards in the Esclans Valley in Provence. 

Flavours of fresh red berry fruit characteristics with floral notes and a ripe and fleshy feel on the palate. The rewarding taste profile is full and lush while being bone dry with a smooth finish.

The 2023 is made from 59% Grenache, 21% Cinsault and 9% Syrah, 6% Rolle (Vermentino) and 5% Carignan grapes. Stainless-steel fermentation with temperature control. There's also 3–4 months’ ageing on lees in tank with regular bâtonnage giving it that silky texture. 

Maker:

Chateau d’Esclans is situated in the heart of Provence, northeast of St. Tropez. 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”. Château d’Esclans is home to Whispering Angel which is made from grapes sourced from amongst the most choice Vineyards in the vicinity of the Esclans Valley and nearby in the Cotes de Provence region. 

A pivotal moment for owner, Sacha Lichine, was his 2006 acquisition of Château d’Esclans in Provence. 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 energized by an abiding passion for making and promoting great wine, has resulted in building a world class branded range including Whispering Angel, Rock Angel, Château d’Esclans, Les Clans, Garrus and The Palm by Whispering Angel. In the process, Sacha has provided a strong contribution to unprecedented growth within the Rosé category.

At the end of 2019, LVMH purchased a 55% stake in Château d’Esclans forming a strategic alliance with Sacha Lichine who, in retaining a 45% stake in his company, works closely with Moët Hennessy by further developing his range of luxury rosés via premiumisation initiatives throughout the world marking yet another remarkable chapter in Sacha’s dynamic career to date.

Philosophy:

Château d’Esclans’ Harvest takes place each September from sunrise to noon to avoid the heat of the day. During the Harvest, grapes, at their ripest, are selected, picked and carefully placed in small (10 kilo) crates this size of which is chosen in order to avoid too many grapes at the top crushing grapes at the bottom of the crates. Once the grapes arrive to the cellars, they are sorted manually and then go through optical eye camera sorting. All grapes which go into vinification are perfectly de-stemmed and resemble each of the correct physical characteristics dictated by the wine maker including shape, size, colour and general condition. 

The grapes are then sent through a soft crush mechanism. Temperature reduction ensures that freshness and vivacity are locked in. Subsequently, the wine makers determine which will be used to make barrel fermented (aged) wine or stainless steel fermented wine. The overall affect is clear, clean tannin free juice which gives the wines an agreeable characteristic and taste profile while ensuring that the colour is quite pale. Finally regarding blending, while there is little variation vintage to vintage, the cepage or percent/ types of different grape varieties that will make up the ultimate blend will differ with each new vintage however the taste profile remains of high-quality and consistent.

Nose - Musk Perfume, Mandarin, Strawberry
The freshness here is undeniable, as it exudes citrus, rose petals, nectarines, sliced dill and coriander and the signature strawberries and cream.

Palate - Strawberries and Cream, Citrus Highlights, Nectarines
Deceptively weighty on the palate. Lots of strawberry-style fruit, touch of raspberry acidity.

Finish - Raspberry Acidity, Rounded, Grapefruit Tang
A glycerol feel, roundness with a light ruby red grapefruit tang to close

Seems to have one extra gear than all the other rosés tasted. Deceptively weighty on the palate. Lots of strawberry-style fruit, touch of raspberry acidity. Long and complex. - Andy Howard MW, JancisRobinson.com

(2018) This is the real McCoy for this price point. The freshness here is undeniable, as it exudes citrus, rose petals, nectarines, sliced dill and coriander and the signature strawberries and cream. Flavorful and intense on the medium- to full-bodied palate yet so very restrained and elegant. Super-value wine as always. - James Suckling.

(2017) Gentle soft rose with a musk perfume, mandarin, fresh red berries, a glycerol feel, roundness with a light ruby red grapefruit tang to close. So smashable. So smooth. Delightful. - Gary Walsh, The Wine Front.

The Finer Details
Style - Rose
Varietal - Grenache, Cinsault, Vermentino (Rolle)
Country - France
Region - Provence
Vintage - 2023
Bottle Size - 750ml
ABV - 13%