Before I really got into wine, I always thought that Rosés were meant to be refreshing without giving them too much attention. One day, a colleague of mine made me taste me a small glass of rosé & it was a revelation. My belief that they had to be either insipid or sweet was dismantled, it turned out they could have a certain complexity. This was the wine that she served me.
“…a bottle to try if you're looking for new experiences.”
Whispering Angel 2017
Produced & bottled by: Château d’Esclans
Type: Dry Rosé from Southern France
Region: AOC Côtes-de-Provence, Provence, France
Aging: None
ABV: 13%
Grapes: Grenache, Cinsault, Rolle, Syrah, Tibouren
Appearance: 9/10
The bottle is elegant with a nice label design although offers very limited information. It comes with a real cork which is great since you can probably lay it down for 1-3 years, but I still have a preference for synthetic ones. In this case, a tight metal screw cap could have been fine since most Rosés are meant to be drunk young while the acidity is at its peak & these tend to keep the wine fresher for a long period of time. In the glass, it offers a clear bright pink salmon colour with coral hues. A wide crest forms upon swirling with large drops falling down at a quick pace. The appearance is appealing & I’m eager to taste it again.
Nose: 12.5/15
A powerful bouquet of under-ripe strawberries, white peaches & cranberries is dominating that first nosing. As it breathes & warms up a little, some watermelon grapefruit peel & lemon make their way, creating a tart & delicate fruit salad. There are also underlying hints of floral notes such as lilacs & roses that delivers a nice layer of complexity. The aromas are amazingly refreshing while being refined at the same time. It doesn’t evolve much from breathing except in the first 10-15 minutes maybe, so don’t need to worry about it, just enjoy these fruity scents.
Mouth: 13.5/15
The flavours on the palate are similar to the nose although seem to be a little warmer with richer fruits. The grapefruit & lemon evolve into blood orange notes while the peaches & berries give way to some dried apricots & wild raspberries. I get the same feeling of a fruit salad but one that has cooked under the hot sun for half an hour. There’s a strong yeast presence with some notes of fresh bread & cream, a bit unusual compared to my experience in rosés, although it blended in perfectly. There are light minerals showing up as well with an impression of salty wet slate. I also get a vague flavour of mango & honey becoming stronger as the wine warms a little. A nice medium to full body paired with some soft tannins deliver a somewhat oily texture. A moderate to high acidity & a dry palate complete this portrait of a fine rosé. This has a lot more weight & balance than most I’ve tried from this region.
Finish: 7/10
The finish is shorter than I was expecting & given the great balance between the different characteristics of the wine, longer-lasting flavours & sensations would have made this a wonderful experience. The light acidity persists for a while before fading away with faint notes of watermelon rind, orange peel & almonds.
Overall: /100
Whispering Angel is a wonderful experience for somebody looking for a little more complexity than the usual cheaper Côtes de Provence. It is dry with a refreshing acidity & a fleshy mouthfeel. The fragrant aromas are reminiscent of citrus, berries & cream. I wouldn't say it is the perfect Rosé, nor that the hype is real. However, it definitely is a bottle to try if you're looking for new experiences.
3-word Description:
Fruity, Delicate & Balanced.
The Reference
More information @cavesdesclans.fr
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