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Prieuré Saint-Jean de Bébian
Pézenas · Languedoc · France
Prieuré Saint-Jean de Bébian stands near Pézenas in the Languedoc, on volcanic and rolled-galet soils whose viticultural story reaches back to Cistercian monks in 1152. In the 1970s Alain Roux replanted with cuttings from Jean-Louis Chave (Syrah), Château Rayas (Grenache) and Domaine Tempier (Mourvèdre), alongside local Cinsault, Carignan and Clairette. Later owners included Revue du vin de France editors Chantal Lecouty and Jean-Claude Le Brun, then the Pumpiansky family from 2008. Since 2011 Benoît Pontenier has led the estate — about twenty-three hectares in nearly fifty parcels — shifting after 2015 toward organic farming, whole-cluster reds, indigenous yeasts and élevage in foudre with little or no sulphur.
“The wines combine Mediterranean warmth with a long mineral finish: Grenache, Syrah and Mourvèdre that speak of basaltic Pézenas rather than of heavy extraction.”
A historic Languedoc address renewed for clarity.
