WINETASTIC
Prieuré Saint Jean de Bébian
Pézenas - Languedoc
The story of Prieuré Saint Jean de Bébian dates back to the Roman Empire, as the vineyard would have been a reward for winning multiple wars to the centurion Bébianus. Then the estate was sold to local monks who built up a monastery (hence the name Prieuré) and a vineyard.
The estate was lately in the news due to a few changes of ownerships – bought in 1991 by the former owners of La Revue des Vins de France, then acquired along with Domaine Ganevat in Jura in 2015 by the Russian Alexander Pumpyansky, and recently taken over by its long time winemaker Benoit Pontenier.
Benoit is the talent behind the revival of this old state, now composed of 19 hectares of old and young vines, all in biodynamic farming. In the cellar, very few interventions and using wild yeasts without any filtration in perfect harmony with the terroir and its surrounding.
Prieuré Saint Jean de Bébian in the bottle
Coteaux du Languedoc Rouge
A complex blend of the oldest vines of the estate - 80 old vines plots of Grenache (80%) and 65 years old Cinsault (20%). Aged 12 months in old foudres, then an additional 12 months in bottle before release.
Coteaux du Languedoc Blanc
A blend of 40% Roussanne, 30% Rolle, 15% Clairette and 15% Grenache Blanc, aged 12 months in barrels on lees.
La Chapelle de Bébian Rouge
Composed of 60% of Syrah and 40% of Mourvèdre, using a little portion of whole clusters and shortly aged in old foudres.
La Chapelle de Bébian Blanc
A blend of 50% Grenache Blanc and 50% Roussanne, with short ageing in large old foudres to preserve the natural freshness.
Tartuguier
Tartuguier is the name of a little river flowing down the estate, to represent the unity of the terroir here, as a mixture of clay, silex and basalts. A blend dominated by Mourvèdre (80%) and Grenache Noir (20%), using 50% whole clusters, aged for 12 months in old foudres.
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Lieux Dits Pautel
Pautel is a single vineyard composed only of old vines of Syrah coming from massale selection, on gravely soils. Aged 12 months in old foudres, then an additional 12 months in bottle before release.
Lieux Dits Les Moutons
Coming from a single vineyard only planted with old plants of Mourvèdre. Aged 12 months in old foudres, then an additional 12 months in bottle before release.
