Wines Côtes de Provence Château Esclans - The Beach by Whispering Angel - 2023

Viniou Reviews

Château Esclans’ “The Beach by Whispering Angel” 2023 is a celebrated rosé that captures the very essence of contemporary Provence winemaking. Carefully crafted, this cuvée is typically a harmonious blend of Grenache, Cinsault, and Syrah—varietals that thrive in the sunlit vineyards of the region. The 2023 vintage benefits from a mild, consistent growing season, allowing for slow maturation and the development of pure, expressive fruit. The vinification at Château Esclans is meticulous: grapes are harvested at sunrise to preserve freshness, gently pressed, and fermented in temperature-controlled stainless steel tanks, giving a luminous pale salmon hue. Aromatically, this vintage exhibits notes of ripe peach, wild strawberry, and delicate citrus, underlined by a refined minerality and a feather-light, dry finish.

Provence, stretching from the Rhône in the west to the Mediterranean in the south, is the spiritual home of rosé wines. Here, the vineyards bask in a Mediterranean climate, marked by hot, dry summers tempered by the cooling Mistral wind. The soils are diverse, with Château Esclans enjoying a combination of schist, clay, and limestone, delivering minerality and finesse to its wines. Winemaking in Provence traces back over 2,600 years—making it France’s oldest wine region—where traditions are honoured yet enhanced by modern precision, as illustrated by contemporary cuvées like The Beach.

When it comes to food pairings, The Beach by Whispering Angel shines with Mediterranean fare. Its fresh, crisp profile complements Provençal classics like salade niçoise, pissaladière, or grilled sea bass drizzled with olive oil and lemon. It also pairs beautifully with summer dishes such as bouillabaisse, herbed poultry, or lightly dressed vegetable salads, enhancing both the wine and the food’s natural vibrancy.

For the best tasting experience, serve this rosé well-chilled, ideally at 8-10°C. This will accentuate its brightness, subtle aromas, and invigorating acidity—perfect for relaxed al fresco dining or simply celebrating the pleasures of a sun-drenched day.