Château d'Esclans explained

Château d'Esclans is a rosé wine producer in the Côtes de Provence AOC in Provence, France. It is majority owned by LVMH.[1]

The château is credited with reviving interest in rosé wine.[2] It is best known for producing the Whispering Angel rosé wine, which is a high demanded French rosé in the US.[3]

History

Château d'Esclans was formerly a residence of the Counts of Provence. It was later owned by Jacques Auxile Verrion, War Commissioner of Louis XV, who became Count of Esclans under Charles X.[4]

Sacha Lichine purchased Château d'Esclans in 2005, from a Swedish pension fund. Over ten years, he increased production from 135,000 bottles per year to 5 million bottles per year.[5] Lichine targeted the North American market, transforming rosé wine as a lifestyle accessory. He brought in Patrick Léon as winemaker, who had retired from Mouton Rothschild.[6]

In 2019, LVMH acquired 55% of Château d'Esclans: 50% from Lichine's business partner Hervé Vinciguerra, and 5% from Lichine, with Lichine retaining 45% of the business.[7] [8] The value of the deal was not disclosed but was estimated at €140 million.[9]

Products

The main wine of the estate is "Whispering Angel". The lesser wines are "The Pale" and "The Beach". "Rock Angel" is more expensive.[6] These wines are made with grapes bought in from other estates.[10] More expensive wines are made with grapes only from the estate: "Château d'Esclans", "Les Clans" and "Garrus". "Garrus" is one of the world's most expensive rosés,[11] [12] made from almost 100-year-old vines and fermented in French oak barrels.

Notes and References

  1. News: Millar . Rupert . LVMH buys into Whispering Angel . 11 March 2022 . The Drinks Business . 29 November 2019.
  2. News: Lyons . Will . The best rosés aren't just from Provence . 11 March 2022 . The Times . en.
  3. News: Hunt . Elle . From lockdown treat to Adele's fridge: Whispering Angel, the supermarket rosé that took over the world . 11 March 2022 . The Guardian . 17 December 2021 . en.
  4. News: Des lettres de noblesse pour le Château d’Esclans . 5 August 2023 . www.sommeliers-international.com.
  5. https://www.pointdevue.fr/lifestyle/visites-privees/univers-chez-sacha-et-mathilde-lichine
  6. News: Sacha Lichine, VRP de luxe du rosé de Provence . 5 August 2023 . Le Monde.fr . 5 July 2017 . fr.
  7. News: Sacha Lichine cède Whispering Angels à LVMH . 5 August 2023 . www.vitisphere.com . fr.
  8. News: Château d'Esclans : nouvelle acquisition de Bernard Arnault dans le vin rosé . 5 August 2023 . La Revue du vin de France . fr.
  9. News: Moët Hennessy acquiert le Château d’Esclans, en Provence . 5 August 2023 . avis-vin.lefigaro.fr . fr.
  10. News: When Success is Not Enough: Dauphin of Wine Legend Alexis Lichine, Sacha Lichine Decants His Emotions . 5 August 2023 . Une Vue de l'Esprit . 1 April 2020.
  11. News: Can a rosé ever be worth £100+ a bottle? . 5 August 2023 . Club Oenologique . en.
  12. News: Schmitt . Patrick . Here’s what a new £100+ French rosé tastes like . 5 August 2023 . The Drinks Business . 15 June 2020.