L’Escarelle Le Pacha Rosé 2022

Coteaux Varois en Provence AOP, France 

Vinous 93 points! James Suckling 90 points!

Stunningly located in the heart of Provence, the 100 hectares of vines of the Château l'Escarelle estate flourish in 1,000 hectares of truly pristine countryside. Less than an hour's drive east of Aix-en-Provence, L'Escarelle is famous for its beautifully aromatic and enticing dry rosé wines. The estate's vines are planted in limestone soil on terraces separated by dry-stone walls at an altitude of up to 500 meters, naturally following the shape of Escarelle's rolling hills and the adjacent Montagne de la Loube. 

Yann Pineau, a French businessman and environmental advocate, purchased the estate in 2014. Yann fully renovated the winery and then set about to implement a series of initiatives aimed at preserving this stunning natural environment. One of these projects included establishing the Butterfly Garden. This nature reserve was created in 2016 in partnership with the Itancia Endowment Fund and the LPO (a French bird conservation charity) to protect the area's wildlife and raise awareness of issues surrounding climate change. The Pacha (the Foxy Emperor in English) is a rare butterfly found in Provence, including on the Escarelle estate. This signature butterfly appears on the label of this wine. In 2016, Chateau l'Escarelle earned the Haute Valeur Environnementale certificate (HVE), France's most stringent environmental certificate, and 2020 marked the estate's first certified organic vintage. 

“A captivating blend of crushed stone, sea spray and mint gives way to young peach as the 2022 Rosé Le Pacha blossoms in the glass. This is seductively creamy, textural, lifted and spry with depths of citrus-tinged orchard fruits and sweet inner florals that resonate throughout. There's tension on the finish, with candied lime notes pulling at the cheeks. Le Pacha is a blend of 40% Grenache, 40% Syrah and 20% Cinsault.”—Vinous, 93 points! 

Enjoy L’Escarelle Le Pacha Rosé now and over the next 3-4 years as the perfect patio aperitif wine. It matches up beautifully with salade Nicoise, roast chicken, grilled shrimp and mild cheeses.