Especially pale copper color; peach, pink grapefruit, lemon, strawberry, flowers, minerality, white pepper on the nose and palate.
Dry; no tannins, good acidity. Light body. Light, bright, refreshing with citrus and fresh fruits. Soft, creamy finish. Blend of grenache, cinsault, syrah. Delivers quality and style in attractive, colorful bottle. This is made in the same winery as Whispering Angel, and can be considered the slightly less pricey version of that runaway success with a scosh less finesse. Still, a delightful Provence rosé by a very skilled and innovative winemaker. 13% ABV
Made with grapes from the Vin de Pays/IGP Var region. Harvested at night to preserve freshness and acidity. Grapes placed in small—22-pound crates—to avoid too many grapes at the top crushing grapes lower in the crate. Hand and optically sorted, then de-stemmed. Vinified in temperature-controlled stainless steel to continue to accent fruit and freshness. Fermented in stainless steel on the lees to provide texture on the palate.
Château d’Esclans is located in the center of the Department of the Var in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur region of southeastern France, where the majority of Provence AOC rosé is made. Marseille is the major town, the French Riviera and Saint-Tropez the best known areas. Château d’Esclans is north of Saint-Tropez and west of Cannes.
Château d’Esclans traces its history back the the 12th century. Today, only the cellar remains from the original property in the heart of Provence. The Perraud family owned the property from 1955 to 1994. A Swedish pension fund owned it after that. Sacha Lichine acquired the property in 2006 and Patrick Léon became the winemaker. Léon was the winemaker at Mouton Rothschild before creating Whispering Angel in 2006, followed by The Pale and The Beach. Today there are 183 acres of vineyards on the 659-acre property. Grenache is the primary grape. Some of the vines are more than 90 years old. Grapes in this wine came from the estate and from local growers.
Château d’Esclans The Pale Rosé by Sacha Lichine 2023 is lean, delicate, fruity light delight by the same winery that makes Whispering Angel. The wine is made to be “an accessible symbol of luxury.” The website explains: “made for a sophisticated rosé drinker and offered at the value level of quality, Provence rosés Sacha Lichine has once again redefined the category.” Works as an aperitif and with charcuterie board with lighter cheeses, fruit. Pair with summer and garden salads; shellfish and seafood—smoked salmon and scrambled eggs, shrimp, crab, lobster; roast chicken and turkey; vegetarian fare—grilled vegetables, light pasta dishes with herbs and olive oil. Cheese—light cheeses, goat cheese, brie, feta, baby swiss, young cheddar, mozzarella. Avoid piquant-sharp cheese, pungent cheeses like aged blues, gorgonzola as they can overpower a delicate rosé like this one. $14-17
Château d’Esclans website with nice video of all steps of wine production
