Chateau D’Esclans Rosé Tasting Masterclass
Harvey Nichols Manchester, Second Floor Deli Bar
WORDS: Ange Seddon
We were invited to the Second Floor Deli Bar in Harvey Nichols Manchester to learn about the history of Chateau D’Esclans and more importantly to enjoy a hand-selected offering of their rosé wines, including their very popular Whispering Angel.
First, though, there is a chance to win a magnum of the eponymous rosé by sharing a picture in front of their Angel Wings photo wall and tagging @harveynichols_manchester and @thewhisperingangel. Each fortnight the winner will be contacted via Instagram.
Our wine tasting journey began with Whispering Angel, a lifestyle brand that is a firm favourite already, and rightly so. ‘Drink it youthful’ was the instruction (the wine, not me I assume!). This delightful rosé announces the spring and summer season with its beautiful red berries on the nose and taste. We were taught that wine tasting is all about the 5 S’s. Sight, smell, swirl, sip and savour, that last one being my favourite.
Provence Rosé can be paired with so many foods as well as being enjoyed on its own. Gone are the days where rosé was the purview of just a girly lunch or a hen do, these are serious wines, each one increasing in complexity thanks to the aged vines that they are harvested from. The naturally organic environment in Provence, with warm days and cooler nights, all work together with the skilled workforce and hard earned expertise, to produce outstanding wines that speak for themselves.
Next, we sampled Rock Angel, the grapes are harvested from 100m higher up in rocky soil (hence the name) with a tangy and mouthwatering bite. It pairs well with oysters and a hearty monkfish curry or lamb. Just beautiful.
We learned that most rosés are a blend of Grenache, Syrah, cinsault and rolle (Vermentino) some or all used to a greater or lesser extent, depending on the finish, with acidity and oak barrelling adding to the complexity.
We then moved on to the estate wines, increasing in price point, but in my humble opinion, worth every penny. The Chateau D’Esclans 2020 is from 30-35 year old vines with flavours of stone fruits, vanilla bean and buttery brioche. The oak gives it a fuller more velvety mouth feel. This wine can be kept for longer, but once you’ve tasted it, you’ll agree, that’s unlikely to happen.
Then finally the crème de la crème, Garrus 2021. This is the result of the original vision to produce the best Provence rosé, it had to be perfect. Harvested from 105 year old vines, sparse grapes have a hugely complex wine flavour and strength. Using virgin oak, this small batch wine has intense ageability. You can put this in your cellar alongside your expensive Rioja and Bordeaux and it wouldn’t be out of place. Toasty, smoky, vanillary, with creamy length of flavours. This serious wine can hold its own against big flavours such as a t-bone steak and would sit happily on the menu of a big celebration meal like Christmas Day.
These rosés embrace quality and lifestyle, they would convert the most hardened of wine snobs. They are wines to be taken seriously, but more importantly, as I said at the beginning, to be enjoyed. Stop by and smell the rosés.
Cin cin!
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