Domaine Prieuré Saint Jean de Bébian, covering 32 hectares, is currently composed of 43 different plots, all preserved for their geological diversity and exposure.
The red grape varieties (40% Grenache Noir, 30% Syrah, 20% Mourvèdre, and 10% Cinsault) are grown on three types of soil. These include a soil composed of Villafranchian limestone and clay-limestone, one of basalt from volcanic flows, and a third argillaceous-siliceous soil made of white quartz pebbles and travertine.
The white grape varieties, distributed among Roussanne (50%), Grenache Blanc (20%), Vermentino (15%), and Clairette (10%), have a soil composed of Miocene limestone whose active limestone content approaches that of great white wine terroirs such as Chablis or Meursault.
At Prieuré Saint-Jean-de-Bébian, history looks at you. Cistercian monks, who arrived in the 11th century, began cultivating vines as early as 1152 on these Pézenas terroirs. Several figures of viticultural Languedoc have succeeded each other at the head of this emblematic estate, starting with Alain Roux, who in the 1970s introduced exceptional plant material, notably sourcing Syrah from Domaine Gérard Chave, Grenache from Château Rayas, and Mourvèdre from Domaine Tempier. In addition to this formidable plant heritage, the estate benefits from a mosaic of soils, plots, exposures, and microclimates. The ambition today is to bring a breath of fresh air to the Prieuré and to revive the great wines of the past.
The estate continues to practice traditional cultivation and manual harvesting to respect its vines as much as possible. In the heart of the Coteaux du Languedoc appellation, the estate's vineyard, resulting from massal selection, is classified as "Cru Pézenas". The recent arrival of young Benoît Pontenier has allowed the cru to rise to the rank it deserves! With Demeter certification and the suppression of SO2, the wines have never been so inviting, floral, and relaxed.
The wines produced, very Mediterranean, both powerful and balanced, are best consumed with long aging, starting from about ten years. They have a very good ability to age harmoniously, being generous and refined.
# Organic, Languedoc, Red, Grenache Noir, Syrah, Mourvèdre, Elegant, Round, Deep, Duck with olives, Daube, Cheeses, Biodynamic
