Prévost has fast become one of the finest small growers in Champagne. He was introduced to us by Pierre and Sophie Larmandier who pointed us in the direction of his tiny plot in the village of Gueux, just west of Reims. Prévost inherited his vineyard known as les Béguines from Prévost’s grandmother in the mid 80’s. His friend Anselme Selosse, encouraged him to make the wine himself and the early releases were made and bottled in Selosse’s cellar. Les Béguines is a 2 hectare site with 40 year old Meunier vines. The sedimentary soils here are some of the most distinctive in Champagne with some 20 metres of sandy soil that is fully of shell and countless fossils (i.e. limestone), before the solid chalk for which the region is more renowned. This uncommon terroir produces one of Champagne’s most singular wines. Prévost also has a tiny parcel of land next to les Béguines that he has co-planted to Pinot Meunier, Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Blanc. For the moment this is blended into the main wine but may one day produce a separate cuvee. In the field Prévost practises the type of ‘living soil’ viticulture that we have come to expect from the finest growers – biodynamic preparations, no pesticides, no herbicides, no chemicals of any sort. This minimalist approach is carried through to the winemaking - natural yeast fermentation, no fining or filtration, very low dosage and barrel fermentation in 450-600 litre barrels. It is an approach more reminiscent of Burgundy than Champagne. In short, Prévost makes one superb wine from predominantly one grape, from a single vineyard and a single year. He doesn’t make very much at all and so we receive a tragically small amount. Bibendum Wines

We are offering the 2008 vintage here which is, by all accounts an outstanding year across Champagne. There is no vintage listed - a code at the base of the label gives the clue. As always, the wine has had virtually no dosage added and was disgorged after 18 months on lees. It’s tightly wound, as you would expect of a young les Béguines, while the aromas and flavours blend the spicy, mineral, appley edginess of the Meunier with the warmth of freshly baked things and some malty notes. The balance, complexity and length are impressive. Previous releases have proven the potential of this wine to age very well and, to be frank; this is a wine that is always better with time on cork. If you have the chance to hold it, even for 12 months, you will be well rewarded for your patience. The 2007 is a very different wine today to when we released it a year ago. If you can’t wait, well, that’s life - try to give it a few months to settle.

Jerome Prevost produces just one wine, from old Pinot Meunier vines.  The result is often the most intense and exotically spicy Meunier Champagne in the region. Michael Edwards; The Finest Wines of Champagne

Today there are a handful of wines from elite, artisanal grower-estates in Champagne that have attracted a nearly cult-like following. One of the most sought-after of these is the meunier of Jerome Prevost ... Selling a Prévost wine, or ordering one at a wine bar or restaurant, has become almost a badge of honor, a secret sign that affirms your initiation into an exclusive club of those in the know. Unfortunately, with an annual production of only about 13,000 bottles, Prévost’s wine is not always easy to obtain...Needless to say, if you do happen across a bottle you ought to buy it, as Prévost’s champagne is an experience not to be missed. Peter Liem, World of Fine Wine & Champagne Guide.net

Jerome Prevost is a man of rare artistic sensibilities; painter, sculptor, thinker and a perfectionist winemaker. He makes just one wine, from predominantly Pinot Meunier, and it’s sought after everywhere. It is, without question, the best Pinot Meunier we’ve tasted, and a superb single vineyard Champagne.