orn in Bordeaux and educated in America, Sacha Lichine has worked in every aspect of the Wine industry from production to final sale. He began working at his family’s former property, Chateau Prieuré Lichine and Chateau Lascombes during the summers of his youth from working the vines to dressing and selling the final product in the estate’s retail shop.

Sacha subsequently established, at the University level in America, a summertime job, between 1978 and 1982; Sacha Lichine International which was a luxury wine tour business to France for educationally hungry Americans that consisted of 3 week trips through all major wine villages and appellations in France as well as dining at the greatest gastronomic Michelin starred Restaurants within these regions. Sacha additionally worked at Anthony’s Pier 4 Restaurant in Boston as a Sommelier between 1980 and 1982. Following this stint, Sacha worked as a Salesperson and Buyer at C. Pappas & Co. wine wholesalers in Boston between 1982 and 1983.

A wine Brokerage and distribution company, Caribbean Chateaux, was established on Saint Lucia in 1983 to promote and sell his selections to all major luxury hotels and resorts in over 18 islands and operated until 1987.

In 1985 Sacha was hired as an Imported Wine Specialist in Beverly Hills for Southern Wines & Spirits of California. In 1987, a defining moment in Sacha’s career came about when he started running Prieuré Lichine at age 27. Additionally, Sacha worked with his father Alexis Lichine to update the renowned Encyclopedia of Wines & Spirits. In 1990 Sacha started a negociant business, Borvin, focusing on selecting the best wines from Bordeaux and in 1992 Sacha became a Negociant in Burgundy forming Sacha Lichine Asscociates.

Recognizing the importance of innovation in an increasingly varied wine industry around the world, Sacha developed a line of new world wines from France, Sacha Lichine International/ Vins Sans Frontières which had roots in the selection of small Domaines, Vins de Pays and Burgundian wines under his name and distributed by the wine company Borvin Sacha Lichine International. The company also had a range of blended wines from the Languedoc and varietals from other regions in France marketed under Sacha’s name.

A pivotal moment for Sacha was his 2006 acquisition of Chateau d’Esclans in Provence. In keeping with his uncanny sense of innovation, Sacha felt that Rosé had strong developmental opportunities to become more serious from a production standpoint in addition to being served and consumed more broadly. The result to this foresight energized by an abiding passion for making and promoting great wine, has resulted in building a world class branded range including Whispering Angel, Rock Angel, Chateau d’Esclans, Les Clans, Garrus and The Palm by Whispering Angel. In the process, Sacha has provided a strong contribution to unprecedented growth within the Rosé category.

This has made for a remarkable chapter in Sacha’s dynamic career to date during which Sacha has tirelessly sold and promoted his French wine productions and selections for nearly 4 decades by traveling the world and living in multitudes of cities from New York to Boston then on to Los Angeles, Margaux to Geneva, Paris, London, Bruxelles, Megève, Chicago, Hong Kong, Singapore back to Boston, Southern Florida in the Miami/Boca Raton area and ultimately returning to Europe where he today, when not traveling, bides his time between Geneva and Chateau d’Esclans.

Sacha Alexis Lichine

Bertrand brings to this an updated heritage which honors an approach of applying both traditional form and modern function to the way we make our barrel fermented prestige cuvées at Chateau d’Esclans while paying very close attention to producing Whispering Angel and ensuring that its quality remains consistent with on-going levels of growth as each year unfolds. Striking a balance between both is a challenge that comes naturally when meeting it because the Léon standard toward crafting great wines is something to which Bertrand is a key part. This is evidenced by his contributions towards making nearly two-thirds of the vintages to date not only from Chateau d’Esclans but for Rock Angel, Whispering Angel and The Palm By Whispering Angel.

Continuity and greatness are by-products to Bertrand’s oversight while both are a function of remarkable precision based on paying the highest level of attention to detail. Familiarity plays a role as well however less insofar as on-going repetition is concerned but instead understanding what consumers want from an evolutionary perspective and how to deliver it vintage to vintage in terms of applying the best standards and practices when making all the Lichine wines as great as they are.

For sure, there are many more Rosés on the market than there were when Sacha Lichine and Patrick Léon began making the wine in 2006. Towards that end, Bertrand’s commitment to consistency while balancing it with innovation is what ensures quality in the bottle.

Bertrand Léon

Chateau d’Esclans and Whispering Angel’s Technical Director at the outset to our sixth Harvest in September 2011. Since then Bertrand, a graduate of Bordeaux Agriculture, where he studied Viticulture and Oenology has overseen eight of our thirteen vintages in this capacity.

As the son of our Founding Consulting Oenologist, the late Patrick Léon, Bertrand has learned from among the greatest mentors in the modern day wine making world in addition to working with and building upon a distinguished pedigree spanning across two wine making generations.

Jean Claude Neu

Neu, a graduate of Lycée Agricole de Hyères, where he studied Viticulture and Oenology has held this position since the beginning in 2006. As the only wine making professional on staff at the time Sacha Lichine launched Chateau d’Esclans and Whispering Angel, Jean Claude’s enduring tenure speaks for itself.

His exposure to overseeing the day to day management of our Cellars initially under Patrick Léon and then with Bertrand has indoctrinated Jean Claude to uphold all standards and practices that have been put into place by the Léons.

That being said, his role is an integral one which not only makes his support invaluable but ensures that his talented staff mirror the approach which has unmistakably become that of our unmatched wine making style and culture.

W ine is a way of life for Bertrand Léon who became

Our passionate and talented Cellar Master, Jean Claude

« Juicy and complex on the palate, it has a serious, pure, dry finish. »

Will Lyons (The Wall Street Journal)

« A captivating wine that draws you in slowlyand prevents you from leaving. »

The Wine Review Online

« Elegant, long and juicy. »Anthony Dias Blue (The Tasting Panel)

« A suave creamy feel echoes throughout.Very flattering. »

The Wine Spectator

« Full body plus loads of flavor and richness. Intense and flavorful. Has a long, long finish. »

95/100James Suckling

« It’s really great that rosé has this kind of winein the category - something to aspire to. »

Jancis Robinson

Grapes are selected from vines that grow from parcels of superior quality.The best quality lots bearing old vines consisting primarily of Grenache and Rolle (Vermentino).Harvesting at sunrise to noon.Grapes are sorted by optical eye electronically and manually three times. Destemming and slight crushing at 7-8°C to avoid oxydation.Blend of free run juice and first slight pressing.No maceration. Alcoholic fermentation in new and second year demi-muids (600L barrels).10 months Burgundian style «Bâtonnage» twice weekly. Individual temperature control.

« The most hypnotic pattisier’s scent & the depthof flavour is outstanding. »

19/20Matthew Jukes

« This powerful wine expresses the more complex side of Provence rosé. »

Roger Voss (Wine Enthusiast)

« Juicy Reverberation, has real class. »Falstaff

« Great elegance and length that shows bothflorality and firmness. »

Steven Spurrier

« Slightly oaken, taught and youthful. »The Drinks Business

97 points

IN 2006, CHÂTEAU D’ESCLANS PRODUCED FOR THE FIRST TIME A FEW BARRELS OF ROSE FROM

A VINEYARD OF 80-YEAR-OLD VINES ATOP A HILL IN PROVENCE.

A NEW CHAPTER HAD BEGUN IN THE WORLD OF ROSE.

« Greatest Rosé ever »

98/100James Suckling

« I sense that Garrus will, one day, be mentioned in the samebreath as wines like La Tâche, Latour, Vieilles Vignes Françaises

and Le Montrachet »

20/20Matthew Jukes

« A gorgeous rosé »Wine Spectator

« This full-bodied wine pushes the concept of rosé to its limits »Roger Voss (Wine Enthusiast)

« This estate in the Côtes de Provence produces dazzling rosés »

Robert Parker (The Wine Advocate)

« I was blown away »Tom Stevenson (Sotheby’s Wine Encyclopedia)

« Achieving cult status »Anthony Dias Blue (Patterson’s Tasting Panel Magazine)

« Sacha Lichine has cracked it »Serena Sutcliffe (Master of Wine)

98 points« Like a great gymnast, this barely pink rosé

has power and finesse »

« “Best rosé in the world? I’m impressed! »Jancis Robinson (Master of Wine)

FOR GARRUS

« Taking rosé to a level it has never been before »Richard Nalley (Forbes Magazine)

« Refined, tight and almost white »Drinks Business

In the Esclans valleyAngels whisper,

If you drink this wine,You might hear them...

If you visit usYou might see them.

«Always delicious»James Suckling

«Chewy and mouthwatering »Decanter

« Dense and rich with lovely texture»Anthony Dias Blue (The Tasting Panel)

« A warm style rounded with enough freshnessto give it a bright character. »Roger Voss (Wine Enthusiast)

« You could drink it from mid-day to midnight»Matthew Jukes

« Loaded onto yachts on the Côte d’Azur and consumed in quantity by connoisseurs»

Serena Sutcliffe

« More palate grabbing by far fromthe Provencal Pink norm»

Jancis Robinson

«Great character»Jonathan Ray (The Spectator UK)

«The Cool thing you have to drink... also impressively good. »

Ray Isle (Food & Wine)

« It’s hard to find fault with this sensational rosé»The Times

93 points

Partially vinified in demi-muids (600L barrels)and stainless steel.

« Ripe and elegant with depthand rich texture»

Anthony Dias Blue (The Tasting Panel)

« What a stunner it is.A refined refreshing rosé.»

Will Lyons (The Wall Street Journal)

« Beautifully balanced, lovely satin texture. Hugely appetising. A complex mouthful.»

Jancis Robinson

« The most serious & rewardingRock Angel of all time. 18.5/20 »

Matthew Jukes

« Rounded and rich with flavors that mingle comfortably together. Ripe aftertaste. 90/100 »

Roger Voss (Wine Enthusiast)

« A pure and unadorned style»The Wine Spectator

« Fully textured palat and more than expected »

Steven Spurrier

« Full body, focused & vibrant. 92/100 »James Suckling

98 points

« A lot of work has gone into this wineand it’s remarkably sophisticated.»

Jonathan Ray (The Spectator)