PRIEURE SAINT JEAN DE BEBIAN Blanc 2020 Languedoc Magnum 150cl White

Grape varieties: Roussanne, Clairette, Picpoul, Grenache Blanc & Vermentino, aged in oak barrels for twelve months.

Terroir: Miocene lacustrine limestone and volcanic lava flows.

Tasting notes: A nose of white-fleshed fruit, preserved lemon and honey, intertwined with fennel and a subtle hint of menthol. The palate is straight and broad, with fine persistence and intensely salivating freshness. This is not a simple aperitif wine, but rather a great gastronomic white. The 2020 vintage is a major success, the finest white wine the estate has produced in a very long time.

🍷 Serving temperature: 10-12°C

The Prieuré Saint-Jean-de-Bébian estate spans 32 hectares and is today composed of 43 distinct parcels, all preserved for their geological diversity and varied exposures.

The red grape varieties (40% Grenache Noir, 30% Syrah, 20% Mourvèdre and 10% Cinsault) are planted on three different soil types: Villafranchian limestone and clay-limestone; basalt from volcanic lava flows; and clay-siliceous soils composed of white quartz pebbles and travertine.

The white grape varieties, Roussanne (50%), Grenache Blanc (20%), Vermentino (15%) and Clairette (10%, grow on Miocene limestone soils with levels of active limestone comparable to great white-wine terroirs such as Chablis or Meursault.

At Prieuré Saint-Jean-de-Bébian, history is ever-present. Cistercian monks, who arrived in the 11th century, began cultivating vines here as early as 1152 on the terroirs of Pézenas. Several key figures of Languedoc viticulture have since led this emblematic estate, beginning with Alain Roux, who in the 1970s introduced exceptional plant material, sourcing Syrah from Domaine Gérard Chave, Grenache from Château Rayas and Mourvèdre from Domaine Tempier. Beyond this remarkable vine heritage, the estate benefits from a true mosaic of soils, parcels, exposures and microclimates. Today’s ambition is to breathe new life into the Prieuré and revive the great wines of its past.

The estate continues to practise traditional viticulture with manual harvesting, ensuring maximum respect for the vines. Located at the heart of the Coteaux du Languedoc appellation, the vineyard, planted using massal selection, is classified as Cru Pézenas. The recent arrival of the young Benoît Pontenier has allowed the cru to rise to the level it truly deserves. Demeter certification, the elimination of SO₂, and a renewed approach have resulted in wines that have never been so expressive, floral and relaxed.

The wines produced here are distinctly Mediterranean, both powerful and balanced, and are best enjoyed after extended ageing, from around ten years onwards. They show excellent ageing potential, evolving with generosity and refinement over time.