Cotes de Provence Rose' 'Garrus' 2021 (750 ml.) - Chateau d'Esclans

THE WINE

Côtes de Provence Rosé 'Garrus' by Château d'Esclans is considered the best wine of the house. Obtained from a single vineyard of almost 100 year old Grenache vines and Rolle (Vermentino) grapes. An assembly of classic local grapes, processed with extreme delicacy, in order to create a refined wine of extraordinary elegance. Entirely fermented and aged in large French oak barrels for 11 months. Today Garrus is firmly established as an iconic, world-class luxury rosé. It is an impressive and concentrated rosé, with a citrus and Mediterranean scrub flavor combined in a creamy finish with rich and spicy notes. Very powerful and multifaceted, yet subtle and full-bodied, with a fantastic mineral freshness and infinite length.

THE COMPANY

Chateau d'Esclans is a mythical name for all Rosé enthusiasts. It is a historic domaine, producing excellent wines in the heart of the wonderful Provence region. The estate is located in an extraordinary place, about twenty kilometers north-west of Fréjus, a small village of ancient Roman origins. In these lands viticulture has very ancient origins. In 600 BC. the Phocians founded the city of Marsilia, bringing the Greek culture of vine cultivation to the new lands, which was then revived and expanded under Roman domination. Already in the time of the Gauls, the site where the domaine now stands served as an observation tower to keep the entire gulf of Frejus under control. The foundations of the cellars of the current building rest precisely on the ancient original structures and symbolize the profound connection with the traditions of the area.

Château d'Esclans represents one of the best excellences of the South of France and is famous for its extraordinary production of high-end Rosé. The estate covers a total area of 267 hectares, of which 74 are intended for vineyards. The most cultivated vines are the classic ones of Provence: Grenache, Vermentino, Cinsault, Mourvèdre, Syrah, Tibouren and the omnipresent Merlot. The richness of the domaine lies in a heritage of old Grenache vineyards over 90 years old, which produce grapes of the highest quality, with particularly intense and elegant aromas. To keep the integrity of the grapes intact, the harvests take place only in the early hours of the morning, with a careful selection of the bunches in the vineyard.

The grapes are chosen again upon arrival in the cellar, with the use of a manual and optical sorting table, in order to ensure that only the perfect bunches continue in the production process. Before vinification, destemming takes place. The grapes undergo cold maceration at a temperature of 8°C before being pressed very delicately to extract only the free-run must. To make Rosé, brief contact with the skins in the press is used, in order to obtain wines with a very pale pink color and subtle, fresh and elegant aromas. The Château d'Esclans labels represent an essential model for anyone in the world who wants to produce rosé.