Ch d''Esclans: "The best rosé in the world?" (Jancis Robinson)
"the best pink wine to have come my way had been from Ch d'Esclans." - Jancis Robinson
When Sacha Lichine purchased Chateau d'Esclans in 2006 he promptly brought in Patrick Leon (formerly of Mouton Rothschild) as winemaker and set about making the world's best rosé and also to prove that rosés can be wines to be taken seriously. Sacha's own wine heritage (his father owned Chateau Prieure-Lichine in Margaux) in conjunction with the gravitas Patrick Leon brings to the table has certainly got the wine press talking over the last year or so. However his wines have had a significant cult following in the south of France since their debut release. The 2006 Garrus (160 cases produced) sold out in just three weeks. Indeed Sacha's wines are fast becoming the tipple of choice in the bars, restaurants and yachts of St.Tropez, as our man-in-the-know, the irrepressible Andrew Brudenell Bruce (pictured here with Sacha Lichine) has been telling us for some time. Little did we know we had a St.Tropez office until Andrew's receipts started trickling in! Thankfully Andrew's connection with Sacha meant that last month the rest of the BI team got to sample these great wines for ourselves.
Ch d'Esclans make four roses; their signature cuvee 'Whispering Angel', the slightly weightier 'Esclans' which is our pick of the bunch and then the two seriously punchy efforts in the 'Les Clans' and micro-cuvee 'Garrus.' The latter, transcending any style (and price!) of rose you're ever likely to taste.
