Château d'Esclans 2025 Whispering Angel Rosé Côtes de Provence 20th Anniversary Magnum 1.5L

In 2006,Sacha Lichine purchasedan ancient Provençal estatenortheast of Saint-Tropez —a property whose historystretched back to thetime of the Gauls, whoseterraced vineyards rise from theEsclans Valley to old Grenachevines at 90 years of age —with one stated ambition: toproduce the greatest rosé inthe world. He launched the first Whispering Angel vintage that same year, with a pale pink color so delicate it seemed almost transparent and a flavor profile so immediately appealing — dry but lush, fresh but concentrated, ripe but never heavy — that it converted a generation of wine drinkers from the idea that rosé was a summer afterthought into the conviction that rosé could be the world's most enjoyable wine.

Twenty yearslater, the 2025 is the 20th Anniversaryvintage. The pale color isexactly what it always was. TheGrenache, Cinsault, Rolle, Syrah, andTibouren blend from Côtes deProvence is exactly what it always was— old vines up to 90years, harvested withobsessive care, vinified withtechnical precision in the samecellar that produced every oneof those twentyvintages. James Suckling awarded 92Points and described "driedraspberries, frozen strawberries andmild spices — medium-bodiedwith bright acidity — balanced anddriven, with a lively centerpalate and a persistent,flavorful finish." Woods WholesaleWine's tasting note added"an elegant and scented nose ofpink cherry pits, peachskin and cherry blossoms —medium-bodied with fresh, roundacidity and a textured finish."

And in a 1.5-litermagnum — the format that Champagnehouses have always understood producesslower, more even aging, betterpressure, and a more gracious giftpresentation than any standard bottle —the 20th Anniversary Whispering Angelarrives as the most specificallycelebration-appropriate, the mostspecifically occasion-anchoring, andthe most generously poured rosé giftavailable at Blackwell's. From Monacoto the Hamptons, from the Hamptons toSan Rafael: the same wine, in twice thebottle.

Origins & Craftsmanship

Châteaud'Esclans is a historic property in theEsclans Valley, La Motte, in theeastern Var département of Provence —an estate whose origins predate theappellation system by centuries, whoseterraced vineyards rise from the valleyfloor to old-vine Grenache parcels atprogressively increasing elevation, andwhose château dates to the 19thcentury on land that has producedwine since at least the Gaulishera. Sacha Lichine — son of thecelebrated Bordeaux wineauthority Alexis Lichine — purchasedthe estate in 2005 and launchedthe Whispering Angel brand in2006, transforming what was aquiet Provençal estate intothe most recognized and themost imitated rosé brand in the world.Moët Hennessy (LVMH) acquired a 55%majority stake in 2019, with Lichineretaining 45% and continuing to leadthe production program.

WhisperingAngel draws from both Château d'Esclansestate vineyards and carefully selectedCôtes de Provence parcels fromsurrounding growers — the Cavesd'Esclans négoce operation blendingestate fruit with the finest sourcedparcels to produce the wine at thescale required by its global demandwhile maintaining the quality standardthat 92-point Suckling scores confirmvintage after vintage. The old Grenachevines that define the estate's mostconcentrated and most specificallyflavored fruit grow at the highestelevations of the Esclans Valley, wherevine age — up to 90 years in thehighest lots — produces theconcentrated, low-yield fruit thatgives Whispering Angel its unusualdepth for a wine at this price.

Thegrape blend — Grenache, Cinsault, Rolle(Vermentino), Syrah, and Tibouren — isthe most specifically Provençal and themost historically authentic blendavailable in any Côtes de Provencerosé. Harvesting conducted in themorning for estate grapes and at nightfor sourced parcels. Cold fermentationin stainless steel preserves aromaticpurity and the pale color that isWhispering Angel's most immediatelyrecognized quality signal. No oak agingin the standard Whispering Angelproduction — the wine's creaminesscomes from the Grenache fruit's naturalrichness and the Rolle's aromaticweight rather than from barrel contact,distinguishing it from the lees-aged,oak-influenced Rock Angel above it inthe hierarchy. Bone dry. 13.5% ABV.

The 1.5-liter magnum format produces aslower, more even secondaryfermentation than standard bottles,with better pressure maintenance and amore gracious, morecelebration-appropriate presentation —the format universally recognized asdelivering the finest aging trajectoryand the most specificallyoccasion-anchoring gift experienceavailable from any wine in anycategory.

Critics Reviews

James Suckling — 92 Points (2025):
"A well-rounded, focused and deliciousrosé showing dried raspberries, frozenstrawberries and mild spices on thenose. Medium-bodied with brightacidity. Balanced and driven, with alively center palate and a persistent,flavorful finish."

James Suckling (alternate 2025 note):
"An elegant and scented nose of pinkcherry pits, peach skin and cherryblossoms. Medium-bodied with fresh,round acidity and a textured finish.Elegant and pure finish."

Laithwaites (20th Anniversary 2025 specific):
"The limited-edition 20thanniversary vintage is sophisticatedand pristine, flaunting textured berryfruit, floral and citrus notes."

Château d'Esclans / Wainscott Main official tasting notes:
"A beautifullypale pink, which is pleasing to the eyeand draws one in. Fresh red berry fruitcharacteristics with floral notes. Ripeand fleshy feel on the palate. Greatconcentration. Smooth and round finish.No astringent aftertaste."

Astor Wines (2025):
"Dry,fruit-forward, and playfully acidic.Strawberry, lemon, and white peach. Awine you could get in trouble fordrinking too much of."

Decántalo (2025):
"Ripestrawberries, juicy peaches, and asubtle citrus hint that evokes thefreshness of spring. On the palate, itslightness dazzles with a smooth textureand a perfect balance between acidityand sweetness."

Personalwine.com (confirmed blend note):
"Pale pink with vibrant aromas ofpeach, citrus, melon, and whiteflorals. Medium-bodied, dry, andbeautifully balanced, with a crisp,creamy finish. Effortlessly drinkablefrom brunch to sunset."

Tasting Profile

Nose
Beautifully pale pink — the palest and themost luminously transparent rosé coloravailable in any Provence expression atany price, a color so specificallybeautiful and so specifically famousthat it has been reproduced on nailpolish, lipstick, and fashionaccessories across two decades ofWhispering Angel's cultural influence.The nose opens with the aromaticcharacter that James Sucklingidentified most specifically for the2025: dried raspberries and frozenstrawberries together — both fresh andslightly concentrated, the freshberry's vivacity and the slightly moredried quality of extended ripeningtogether in the pale fruit characterthat Grenache from old Esclans Valleyvines most specifically produces. Pinkcherry pits and peach skin add the mostdelicate and the most specificallyfloral-stone-fruit secondary aromatics.Cherry blossoms add the most beautifuland the most explicitly floralsecondary dimension. Mild spices fromthe Syrah and Tibouren components addthe most subtle and the moststructure-adjacent aromatic quality.Citrus and white florals add freshnessand lift throughout. The twentyvintages of accumulated winemakingknowledge that define the 20thAnniversary vintage are most apparenthere — a nose of unusual precision andunusual elegance for what remains themost broadly accessible and the mostwidely distributed Provence rosé in theworld.

Palate
Dry, fruit-forward,ripe, and fleshy — the combination ofqualities that Astor Wines' mostmemorable characterization captures inits most specifically honest form: "awine you could get in trouble fordrinking too much of." The entrydelivers the fresh red berry charactermost immediately — the Grenache'snatural fruit richness at old-vineconcentration creating a palate ofgenuine substance without heaviness.Lively acidity provides the bright,playful structure that carries each sipforward with appetite-stimulatingenergy. The texture is smooth andround, the finish has greatconcentration, and — as the officialtasting notes specifically promise — noastringent aftertaste. Ripe strawberry,lemon, and white peach carry throughthe mid-palate. The 20th Anniversaryvintage's "sophisticated and pristine"quality is most apparent at thepalate's center — a textured berryfruit richness that is moreconcentrated and more specificallylayered than the most casual summerrosé drinking experience suggests.

Finish
Persistent, elegant, andclean. The smooth and round finish thatdefines Whispering Angel's mostuniversally confirmed quality carriesthrough to a close of genuine length —"a persistent, flavorful finish" inSuckling's own most directcharacterization. No astringentaftertaste, as promised. Pure, elegant,and entirely satisfying — the finishthat has made Whispering Angel the mostrepeat-purchased premium rosé in theworld for twenty consecutive vintages.

Quick Overview

Food Pairings

The dry, lush,fruit-forward character and smoothfinish make Whispering Angel one of themost broadly food-compatible winesavailable — equally at home as anaperitif as alongside a full dinner:

• Seafood and shellfish — oysters,shrimp, lobster, scallops
• Grilledfish — the estate's own mostrecommended food pairing
• Fresh saladswith citrus vinaigrette
• Sushi andsashimi
• Soft cheeses — Brie, freshgoat cheese, burrata
• Charcuterieboards
• Grilled vegetables andMediterranean preparations
• Brunchthrough sunset — the wine's own mostspecifically honest serving occasion