Why should you care? Established in 2006 by Sacha Lichine, son of legendary wine importer Alexis Lichine, who also owned Château Prieuré-Lichine in Bordeaux, this Provence property’s goal is to make the best rosés in France. But quality always comes at a price and the top bottlings of Esclans run from $35 to $95 a bottle. Those wines tend to the rich, high-impact side of rosé but the estate’s entry-level Whispering Angel is a bright, classic take on Provençal rosé, at an extremely fair price given its pedigree and quality.
What does it taste like? The 2011 Whispering Angel is made from a kitchen-sink blend of varieties native to southern France. Pale orange-pink in color, it offers an array of citrus and red fruit aromas and flavors with suave floral and spice accents. Silky and focused, with refreshing mineral character, this rosé would work well with myriad seafood, vegetable, pasta and poultry dishes. There’s noteworthy concentration here but the wine comes off as lithe and vibrant, which means that you can easily enjoy it on its own—and even all by yourself if you’re the greedy type.
How much does it cost? $20; Shaw-Ross International.
Comment by Tom Schreckinger | July 9th, 2012
Thank you very much, Josh.
Please note that Sacha acquired Chateau d’Esclans in 2006.
The complete story/ history is on the web site.
Best,
Tom
Comment by Stephen Tanzer | July 11th, 2012
Thanks for the heads-up, and the sharp eyes. We’ve corrected that embarrassing typo.