Château d'Esclans – WineDrops

Awards & Recognition

Wine Enthusiast Top 100 Wines (Whispering Angel)
Garrus regularly scores 95+ points from James Suckling and Decanter
Rock Angel featured in Wine Spectator’s rosé spotlight
Whispering Angel is the best-selling premium rosé in the world

About Château d’Esclans

Château d’Esclans is a pioneering estate in Provence’s Côtes de Provence appellation, globally renowned for elevating rosé to a luxury wine category. Located near La Motte, just north of Saint-Tropez, the château sits amid rolling hills and old vine Grenache planted on chalky-clay and limestone soils.

The estate’s Mediterranean climate, combined with cooling Mistral winds, promotes slow, even ripening and vivid aromatics. Château d’Esclans specializes in crafting premium, pale rosés with remarkable elegance, texture, and depth—characteristics that have redefined the global perception of rosé wine.

Since Sacha Lichine acquired the estate in 2006, Château d’Esclans has become synonymous with modern Provençal rosé, producing a portfolio of five wines, including the internationally iconic Whispering Angel.

History

Early Roots (Pre-2006)

The estate has long-standing agricultural roots dating back to Roman times, with vines cultivated on the property for centuries, but it remained largely unknown outside of the region.

The Lichine Revolution (2006–2019)

In 2006, Bordeaux-born Sacha Lichine purchased Château d’Esclans and transformed it with a singular vision: to create the greatest rosés in the world. By introducing Burgundian winemaking techniques to rosé—including oak aging and bâtonnage—he elevated the style to a fine wine status.

Global Rosé Powerhouse (2019–Present)

In 2019, LVMH (Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton) acquired a majority stake in the estate, cementing its position as a luxury brand. Investment in viticulture, winemaking, and global distribution has since accelerated, expanding the estate’s reach and reinforcing its place at the top of the rosé category.

Wine Styles

Rosé Wines

Château d’Esclans produces rosé wines that are crisp, pale, and intensely aromatic with layered notes of stone fruit, red berries, and minerals. Key grapes include Grenache, Rolle (Vermentino), Syrah, and Cinsault. The wines range from fresh and youthful (Whispering Angel) to complex and age-worthy (Garrus), some of which undergo fermentation and aging in large French oak barrels to add texture and depth.

White & Red Wines

While rosé is the estate’s sole focus today, small amounts of white and red wines were once made, but have been phased out in favor of perfecting rosé production.

Wine Portfolio

Whispering Angel

The World’s Most Iconic Rosé

Blend:

Grenache, Cinsault, Rolle

Awards & Recognition:

90 James Suckling

Wine Enthusiast Top 100 Wines

Rock Angel

A More Structured and Complex Expression

Blend:

Grenache, Rolle

Awards & Recognition:

92 Decanter

91 Wine Spectator

Les Clans

Creamy, Oak-Fermented Rosé

Blend:

Grenache, Rolle

Awards & Recognition:

94 James Suckling

93 Wine Advocate

Garrus

The World’s Most Exclusive Rosé

Blend:

100% old vine Grenache

Awards & Recognition:

97 James Suckling

95 Wine Enthusiast

#1 Luxury Rosé – Drinks International

Did You Know?

Whispering Angel is poured in more than 100 countries and is a staple on luxury yachts and in beach clubs from Miami to Mykonos.
Sacha Lichine’s father, Alexis Lichine, was a legendary Bordeaux wine merchant and co-owner of Château Prieuré-Lichine.
Garrus, made from 80-year-old Grenache vines, was once the most expensive rosé in the world.
Château d’Esclans was the first to use oak fermentation for rosé in Provence at scale.
LVMH’s involvement brought Château d’Esclans into the same luxury portfolio as Dom Pérignon and Château d’Yquem.