The impressive Château d'Eclans winery, located in La Motta, was purchased by Sacha Lichine in 2006. They own 44 hectares of vines of various varieties and have an average age of no more than eighty years. The vines are planted on clay and sandstone soils. The primary grapes grown on the property are Grenache and Vermentino. Grapes such as Cinsault, Merlot, Mourvedre, Syrah, and Tibouren are also found in the Château d'Eclans vineyards. The vines are planted at various altitudes, resulting in a wide range of flavor concentrations. The Lichine family's goal was to produce the very best rosé wines. And they undoubtedly succeeded. They even received the title of European Winery of the Year, making them the first rosé winery to receive this title.
The grapes are harvested entirely by hand. This is done in the morning to preserve their freshness. In the Château d'Esclans cellar, the grapes are rigorously selected, ensuring only the finest grapes reach the bottle. The berries are completely destemmed and then gently pressed. For fermentation in new and used barrels, 90 percent of the juice is from the free pressing and 10 percent from the first soft pressing. Finally, this rosé is aged for 10 months in wooden barrels.
The result is a beautiful, bright pink rosé. Intense aromas of dried strawberries and peaches are immediately released, underscored by mineral notes. The palate offers a wonderful mineral freshness combined with a full body. It is powerful yet delightfully fruity and vibrant. It has a velvety texture on the long finish.
