The STAR of Provence
Pale peach pink extends into the glass. The aromas of cantaloupe melon fill the air. The fresh scent of summer red fruits and wildflowers makes you want more!
His lightness it is accompanied by the typical flavor of Provence. Sensational final acidity, which makes this rosé something very much special thanks to the silky and creamy texture.
Harvest early in the morning. Automatic selection of grapes. Press at a temperature of 7 – 8 ° C. Fermentation in steel tanks, aging on the lees with frequent pumping over (batonnage).
Rewards: 92 James Suckling points
Château d’Esclans is located in the heart of the Var, where most of the AOC Rosés de Provence is produced. The lands were occupied 2,500 years ago and served as a surveillance point for any intruders who might land in the Gulf of Fréjus. The original castle – of which only the cellars remain today – was built before the 12th century. In 1201 Gérard de Villeneuve, heir to a wealthy Marseille family, became the owner of the castle and most of the lands in the Vallée d’Esclans; these were then sold in batches. Two brothers, Sauveur Louis Ranque and François Alexandre Ranque, later became owners of the castle, then known as Terre d’Esclans.
In 1875, the Ranque brothers sold the property to Joseph Toussaint Caussemille, a matchmaker near Marseille. In 1955, the Perraud family took ownership of the castle until 1994. It was then bought by a Swedish pension fund which produced a small amount of wine and sold the remaining grapes to surrounding winemakers. Sacha Lichine acquired Château d’Esclans in 2006. Today the property extends for 427 hectares, of which 140 are vineyards.
The main grape variety grown on the property is Grenache, followed by Vermentino. Other grape varieties include Cinsault, Merlot, Mourvèdre, Syrah and Tibouren. The chateau is known for its old Grenache vines which produce grapes with a higher concentration of aromas than younger vines. The higher the plots, the older the vines. In the higher soils the vines reach 90 years.
