From Aix-en-Provence: Half-day Sidecar Wine Tour
Leave Aix-en-Provence aboard a vintage sidecar and discover the legendary Sainte-Victoire mountain, Cézanne’s muse, along with charming villages and local wine tastings.
Structure
Drinking window
Best 3 to 10 years from vintage.
vintage3 yrs10 yrs12 yrs
Critic scores
No critic score is published for this bottle that we can cite with a reviewer, a vintage and a review year, so none is shown. The rating in the header is our own.
In the glass
Aroma: white peach, lemon curd, almond, vanilla
Palate: nectarine, blood orange, saline, shortbread
Esclans' premium rose, fermented and aged in 600-litre demi-muids on lees. Vinous and structured, with almond-vanilla texture from oak balanced by saline depth and citrus.
What it pairs with
-
Lobster thermidor
Les Clans' creamy oak texture matches the dish's mustard-cream sauce; saline depth handles the shellfish. -
Roast poularde
Buttery roast chicken with aromatic stuffing meets the wine's body and vanilla register. -
Pan-fried turbot with hollandaise
The richest white fish meets a rose with body, salt and citrus to balance the egg-yolk sauce. -
Aged Vacherin Mont d'Or
The melted soft cheese aligns with the rose's almond texture; acidity refreshes the rich fat.
History
Les Clans was launched in 2006 alongside Whispering Angel as the premium tier in the Esclans hierarchy. The cuvee uses old-vine Grenache and Rolle from selected parcels, fermented and aged in 600-litre demi-muids to push the boundaries of how serious Cotes de Provence rose could be.
- 2006: Sacha Lichine launches Les Clans as a premium Provencal rose
Facts
- Producer
- Chateau d'Esclans · visiting guide
- Grapes
- Grenache, Rolle
- Classification
- AOC Cotes de Provence
- Oak
- Fermentation and aging in 600-litre demi-muids (50 percent new), with batonnage over 8 to 11 months
- ABV
- 13.5%
- Price
- EUR 70 to 100 at retail
- Drinking window
- 3-10 from vintage
- First vintage
- 2006
- Vegan
- Yes (no animal-derived fining)
Frequently asked about Chateau d'Esclans Les Clans
What does Les Clans taste like?
White peach, lemon curd, almond and vanilla on the nose; nectarine, blood orange, saline and shortbread on the palate. Full-bodied with high acidity and a long saline finish.
When should I drink Les Clans?
Drink between 3 and 10 years from vintage. The demi-muid fermentation gives the cuvee real cellaring potential; bottles often peak between year 4 and 7.
Is Les Clans vegan?
Yes. Les Clans is produced without animal-derived fining agents, though the producer does not pursue formal vegan certification.
What food pairs with Les Clans?
Lobster thermidor is the canonical pairing. Roast poularde, pan-fried turbot with hollandaise and aged Vacherin Mont d'Or are equally strong matches.
How long is Les Clans aged?
Around 8 to 11 months in 600-litre demi-muids with 50 percent new oak, with regular batonnage on the fine lees. The result is a rose with more body, texture and aging potential than typical Provencal rose.
Tags
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