Conservation
Bébian
is a wine which ages well and should be opened after at least 3 to 4
years to savour all its complexity. It continues to improve after that
up to 8 to 10 years, or even as long as 12 to 15 years in the most excellent
vintages.La
Chapelle can be tasted younger: between 3 and 6 years.
The white
wine reaches its peak between 2 and 6 years.
On the table
Advised temperature: 18°C
Best if decanted one or two hours before eating
Dishes: Bébian is an autumn and winter wine, to savour with strongly
flavored but refined dishes:
- Game: Duck, pigeon, young partridge, half-roasted
game, poultry cooked in wine sauce, hare or roe deer.
- Slow cooked meat or meat cooked with herbs de Provence, for example
a stew with tomatoes, garlic, onions and black olives.
- Subtle exotic dishes, even with spices and chillis like tajine of
pigeon (north african stew), Beijing Duck or caramel pork…
The Prieuré white wine, dense and smooth, is perfect with crustaceans
and fish in spicy or creamy sauce, warm oysters, lobsters sauteed in
oil with white wine, garlic and tomatoes, bass in fennel…Its fullness
makes it possible to drink with poultry or white meat, as well as with
exotic recipes like curry or tajine with candied lemon."
Prieuré de Saint Jean de Bébian white 2000
" The Prieuré Saint Jean de Bébian 2000 white is mediumly intense, with seductive perfumes of spice, pear, and of mineral. Rich and ample, oozing with fruit, it is slightly alcoholic and closed on the finish - which does not prevent it from being delicious. Mark 88/100" (Tasted in September 2001, one month after bottling) (La lettre de Robert Parker - march 2002)
"Floral and pear on the nose, with much aromatic delicatesse, white peach, hints of spice and aniseed. The palette is very fruity, with a presence of exotic fruit, pear, a good balance between "gras" and freshness, even if the style is more Mediterranean. Very successful. Mark 5 out of 5" (Pierre Casmayor, Guide Hubert 2002)
"The Prieuré Saint Jean de Bébian white, magnificently finished, is one of the most convincing from the region due to its fullness, its finesse et above all its beautiful balance. The 1999 shows a harmony of freshness and length. Mark 9/10" (Guide Bettane-Desseauve 2002)
Prieuré
Saint Jean de Bébian red 2000
The 2000 vintage is showing itself to be at the same level as the others : superb generosity on the nose, crushed red fruits, with a touch of cooked fruits and a hint of violet. Lots of finesse and complexity which is confirmed by the palette. However, the wine is dense, closed and does not yet give its all on the palette. At this stage a good compromise between fruit and structure, with all its takes to have a great future. In magnum, in a good cellar, we're off for more than two decades !" (Gault et Millau, March 2002)
" A characteristic nose, with leather, the garrique, hints of cooked fruits. A palette aromatic and well balanced, with hints of smoke and very expressive spice. Finish on already smooth tannins, pepper. A very south style, which is in keeping with the estates' tradition. Mark : 5/5, distinguished as "Tenor of the Year". (Pierre Casmayor, Guide Hubert 2002).
Chapelle
de Bébian red 2000
Friend of Chantal
Lecouty, " maître de chai " : The first nose expresses
hints of red and black fruit (raspberries / blackberries) characteristic
of syrah that dominates this wine. It then passes onto hints of spice
and macerated fruit (prunes, cherries). On the palette, full bodied and
fresh. Pleasant attack, with structure and good acidity which confers
its highlights. The volume becomes more accentuated and the wine finishes
with elegant tannins, marked by ripe fruit and " garrigue "
herbs (thyme/laurel). In brief, a wine that combines young fruitfulness
and rich constitution.
Chapelle de Bébian red 1999
" The first nose
gives hints of animal (leather, wood), very characteristic of the mourvedre
grape variety which dominates this wine. The second perfume is notes of
spice and macerated fruit (plum, prunes, cherries). On the palette, dense
and fresh. Soft attack, but with substance and good acidity which gives
it good balance". (The Wine Observer)
Prieuré Saint Jean de Bébian red 1999
" The 1999 is
made up from syrah, grenache, and mourvedre (the proportion of this last
variety is only 5% in this vintage, the vines for this grape having been
badly damaged by hail just before vintage). To drink within 3-5 years,
it is medium deep ruby. This wine with perfume and aromas of blackberry,
spice and red current is moderately intense, marvellously ample and dense,
and bestowed with rich fruit with a hint of roasted meats. Mark : 88/100".
(The Wine Advocate - Robert Parker, March 2002).
Prieuré de Saint Jean de Bébian rouge 1998
« Contrary to
many Languedoc wines, which one needs to drink young in order to appreciate
their young ripe fruit, Bébian constitutes firstly a good wine
to lay down, which we would be wrong to drink too soon. In particular
in this vintage, concentrated and elegant austerity reminds us of a “Las
Cazes” Languedocien. The colour appears deep, the nose is still closed
and the dense palette reveals an elegant length. Wait 5-10 years. Mark
: 9 our of 10” (Les Carnets de Bettane/Desseauve, March 2002).
« A nose with hints of smoke, cooked fruits, leather, spices and
hints of thyme/rosemary. The palette is dense, mineral, with well structured
tannins, aromatic; the wine is still searching for its balance and is
still marked by a hard finish. One must wait. Mark : 4,5 points out of
5 ». (Pierre Casamayor Guide Hubert 2001).
L'Autre Versant, red 2000
Once upon a time…
there were 2 vineyards of old cabernet and merlot who found themselves
amongst the Appellation vineyards of the Prieuré Saint Jean de
Bébian. Planted by Alain Roux, the former owner of Bébian,
these vines had been neglected for a long-time, to the extent that it
required a few years of intensive work to revive them. This was achieved
in the year 2000.
What should we do with these grapes ? For us it was unthinkable to add
them to the blend of the Prieuré Saint Jean de Bébian. Firstly
because the Prieuré above all is a Mediterranean wine and adding
a bordelaise variety, seemed to us, to damage its "southern"
integrity. Secondly because cabernets-merlots, even when produced on AOC
soils are not allowed in the appellation Coteaux du Languedoc ".
The idea then came to us to vinify them apart and to propose a new wine.
A wine radically different to the Prieuré " L'Autre Versant
".
To the nose, this wine gives off the aroma of cherries in brandy. After aeration in a glass are points of liquorice, spices and empyreumatic touches.
In the mouth, the texture is dense, extremely concentrated (blackcurrant, tobacco...). Ripened tannins which are expected to melt away with ageing. It should be decanted into a carafe 1-2 hrs before serving. To be drank now.
A classical Bebian, more open
than the 1991.
Aromas of garrigue (laurel) and spices; touches of coffee, prune. In
the mouth, the inimitable 'signature' of Bebian, with full tannins without
dryness. Direct attack followed by an explosive final. A very nice balance
of harmony and richness. Can be drank as of present.
Intense nose, dominated by the
primary aromas of blackberry and blueberry; with age, the bouquet will
be at its best in richness and complexity.
In the mouth, an amazing velvety attack, followed by an elegant but rather
firm structure. Matured and round tannins which melt with age and which
have no harshness.
1995
A very great vintage
and a tremendous wine, though not yet ready for tasting. It is still "closed",
which is a normal phase in the maturing process.
Cellar it and forget all about it for 2/3 years.
1996
A deep nose. Still
noticeably very ripe red-berried fruit (cherry/blackcurrant liqueur) on
a background of sandalwood/oil of cade. Given its youth, it has not yet
acquired the "Bébian nose" withts mixed aromas of garrigue
herbs bay/thyme), spices, leather and so on.
Despite its high alcohol content, it is fine and delicate on the palate
owing to the perfect balance of its ingredients. Noble tannins from over-ripe
grapes are very marked but smooth, being neither dry nor domineering.
A long finish, ending on a fine discreet woody note. Not as dense as the
95 and 97, but more elegant.
A wine to start drinking in 2/3 years time and which will remain at its
peak for 8/10 years.
1997
Intensive and complex
nose combining black fruit, liquorice and warm spices (cinnamon).
The mouth discovers these sweet spicy flavours on a background of black
olives. A taste of very ripe grape. A rich and generous structure upheld
by delicate and fine tannins and a woodiness which will melt further with
age.
A well-bred but truly Mediterranean wine.
Not to be opened before 2003.
La Chapelle de Bébian 97
"La Chapelle
de Bébian", the second wine of the Prieuré Saint-Jean
de Bébian, is made according to the same principles used for the
second wines of the Bordeaux grands crus: a wine reminiscent of a "grand
vin", though without the build and keeping potential since it comes
from young vines in vineyards less inclined to produce the highest quality.
This implies an even more stringent selection of the vat wines used for
the ultimate blend of Prieuré Saint Jean de Bébian.
The 97 has a highly fruity nose (soft fruit) with touches of liquorice.
The tannin structure reveals itself already rounded in the mouth. A full
and generous wine which is ready to drink but can easily be kept for another
4/5 years
1998 White
A rich and complex
nose accommodating vanilla, dried fruit, William pear, currant, fennel
and more.
This aromatic palette is fully restored in the mouth. The structure is
full, rich and persistent. The woodiness is still noticeable but will
have melted in the bottle in a year. Fresh-tasting finish (anise/menthol).
Can be drunk now, or left in the cellar for 2/3 years
