Château d'Esclans - Caves d'Esclans

Château d'Esclans has 267 ha of which 44 ha are vineyards, its old Grenache vines are known for their high concentration of aromas. Located in the heart of the Var, in La Motte, between Saint Tropez and Cannes, Château d'Esclans offers today numerous vintages all renowned among the wines of Provence.

THE ORIGINS OF THE CAVES ESCLANS: A GALLIC AND THEN PROVENÇAL CASTLE

Its origins date back to the Gallic period, when it served as a surveillance point, preventing intrusions into the Gulf of Fréjus. The castle and the cellars of Esclans originally passed from the hands of the Count of Provence to those of Gérard de Villeneuve in 1201. Then in 1875, the Ranque brothers sold the current Château (built in the 19th century and then called Terre d'Esclans) to Joseph Toussaint Caussemille, a match manufacturer from Marseille. From 1955 to 1994, it was the Perraud family who owned Esclans. It was taken over in 2006 by Sacha Lichine and will continue to be run as such despite its purchase in 2019 by Moët Hennessy (LVMH).

OPTIMAL WINEMAKING METHODS

In terms of vinification, Château d'Esclans AOC Côtes de Provence has not done things by halves to concoct superb pink Esclans vintages: state-of-the-art equipment and the precious help of Patrick Léon, a famous oenologist, known for having vinified Philippine de Rothschild's wines (Armailhac, Mouton Rothschild and Clerc-Milon) for some thirty years. Sacha Lichine's wish is to produce "luxury" pink Esclans wines, similar to great whites, to be enjoyed after one or two years and with just the right amount of wood: the Chateau d'Esclans, Les Clans and Garrus cuvées for their ageing in oak barrels.

THE SUCCESS STORY OF CHÂTEAU D'ESCLANS: THE MOST EXPENSIVE ROSE IN THE WORLD

The château produces the famous Garrus rosé, the most expensive in the world. The Whispering Angel rose wine cuvée has become one of the most widely distributed rosés in the world, its structure and aromas putting everyone in agreement. Its little brother, Rock Angel d'Esclans, is also very popular thanks to its freshness and length in the mouth. However, although all the websites and blogs only talk about the very high quality Provence rosés from the Esclans cellars, we feel it is essential to mention the white and red wines from the Esclans Déesse cuvée, which are distinguished by their quality.