DECANTER Magazine April 2005 Prieuré de Saint-Jean de Bébian 2000 (white) ***** Excellent fruity freshness plus typical rich fruitiness. Drink now. Prieuré de Saint-Jean de Bébian 2001 **** Still young but promise of great power, depth and complexity, combined with a lovely herby/spicy freshness. 2005-7. La Chapelle de Bébian 2001 *** Elegant, fruity drinking. 2004-7.   INTERNATIONAL WINE CELLAR March/April 2004 Stephen Tanzer 2001 Prieuré de Saint-Jean de Bebian Coteaux du Languedoc La Chapelle deBebian ...........................................................87 ($15) Full red-ruby. Strawberry, game and garrigue aromas, along with exotic white fruit notes of peach, apricot and pineapple. Supple and fleshy, with flavors of strawberry, raspberry and gunflint. Compared to the estate's flagship offering, this is a bit short on personality. Finishes with sweet tannins and notes of herbs and pepper. 2001 Prieuré de Saint-Jean de Bebian Coteaux du Languedoc ................................................................................................91 ($30) Bright red-ruby. Highly nuanced nose combines black raspberry, minerals, gunflint, spicecake, chocolate, meat and smoky oak, plus exotic suggestions of peach and apricot. Sweet, pliant and generous, with flavors of game, chocolate and spicecake. Finishes with lush, sweet tannins and impressive ripeness. (A Patrick Lesec Selection; importers include Classic Wine Imports, Boston, MA; Wine Warehouse, Los Angeles, CA; Domaine Select, New York, NY) Gault et Millau - Le vin Edition 2004 Prieuré Saint-Jean de Bébian ****(*) After a career in the wine press, Chantal Lecouty and Jean-Claude Lebrun bought this estate from Alain Roux in 1994. From 1975, Alain Roux restructured the family estate and replanted it with noble varietals to produce wines of a somewhat irregular quality, but which sometimes yielded masterpieces. The new owners continue the tradition of producing high quality wine, while working to regularize and refine the quality. Little by little, the red wine has become the archetype of the greatest mediterranean wines. Very concentrated, it is best after at least 5 years and reaches its peak after 10 years. For its harmony and density, the 2001 has reached a new level reducing the difference between a great wine from Languedoc and one from Bordeaux, which was considered impossible before. The white wines pioneer a style more and more defined. Growing on a limestone soil, and having everything necessary for success the 2000 shows that the cultivation and winemaking process has given good results. Principal classification : Coteaux du Languedoc Coteaux du Languedoc 2001 : 90 2000 : 89 1999 : 88 Coteaux du Languedoc La Chapelle de Bébian 2001 : 88 2000 : 88 1999 : 87 Coteaux du Languedoc 2001 : 91 2000 : 91 1999 : 89 1998 : 91 1997 : 88 1987 : 88 Vin de Pays d'Oc Bébian l'Autre Versant 2000 : 86 Guide Bettane & Desseauve 2004 Range of the best wines in France    "Bébian", as the amateurs call it, is since the nineteen-eighties one of the spearheads of the qualitative revolution of the Languedoc vineyards. Contrary to many other estates, this revolution was not made by a micro-vintage crowning a much more common production, but by a really great wine produced in respectable quantity along with a second wine from 1994, La Chapelle de Bébian. Moreover, this great wine relates the history of the search for the best quality in Languedoc: First was the intuitive stage which resulted in a shining success in 1989 but also less open wines in 1991, followed by the modernization stage with an average vintage with better balance in 1997 and a good and rich vintage like 1995 and 1998. With this century began the refinement and harmony. In any case, Bébian is a wine that ages well, which is not very frequent here, certainly mediterranean but without a rustic style. The white wine, very rich and with great flavour increases in length and freshness. Wines: The 2001, reds as well as whites, certainly reaches a new stage in the progression of this estate and constitutes the two most finished and distinguished wines that the Languedoc has ever produced. Subtly aromatic, very complex, the white wine develops with ardour and nobility a deep and smooth structure. The red wine possesses an original silky and velvety texture with a full and very distinguished structure revealing a superb aromatic palette of pepper and fresh ripe fruit with an ambitious flavour of wood perfectly integrated. In the previous years, 2000 is generous but less tight than 1998 and 2001. 1998 and 1995 are really great, rich wines, very spicy and which need to decant for 2 to 3 hours before serving. A word on the 1997 which developes a perfect balance with time--a nice harmony and a great aromatic limpidity. - Coteaux du Languedoc 2001 Red : 9,5 - Coteaux du Languedoc 2001 White: 9,5 - Coteaux du Languedoc 2000 White : 8 - Coteaux du Languedoc 2000 Red : 8 - Coteaux du Languedoc 1999 Red : 7 - Coteaux du Languedoc 1998 Red : 9 - Coteaux du Languedoc 1997 Red : 8,5 - Coteaux du Languedoc 1995 Red : 9 - Coteaux du Languedoc La Chapelle de Bébian 2001 White: 7 - Coteaux du Languedoc La Chapelle de Bébian 2000 Red : 7 Carnets des Dégustation Bettane et Desseauve N°21 - 19 mai 2003 Red Prieuré Saint-Jean-de-Bébian 2001 9 / 9,5 Wine tasting before bottling - 2001 is clearly defined as a new stage in the progression of the cru. Like the white, the red has taken on a new dimension marked by a great aromatic distinction and an improvement in the finesse of tanins and the storage period in oak casks. The appearance of the robe offers a deep color. The aromatic palette developes a great freshness with notes of fruit and pepper. The ambitious taste of wood is perfectly integrated in wine both deep and noble, with a tannic weft and smoothness never reached before by this cru. It is certainly a great Bébian that ages well, though contrary to previous vintages its elegance makes it possible to enjoy immediately Classified number 1 in the AOC of Languedoc White Prieuré Saint-Jean-de-Bébian 2001 9,5 Assuredly the best white wine ever produced by this estate and certainly one of the best white wines of the south of France: golden, finely aromatic with complex notes but without heavyness, this wine is rich and dense. It develops with ardour and nobility a deep, and unctuous structure with great balance. Keeping the generosity and the power from its first vintage character, this 2001 adds a freshness and a balance completly new for this region Classified number 1 in the AOC of Languedoc Red Prieuré Saint-Jean-de-Bébian La Chapelle de Bébian 2000 7 This wine is simple and open: rich and full bodied with notes of blackberry and herbs de Provence with a harmonious finish. White Prieuré Saint-Jean-de-Bébian La Chapelle de Bébian 2001 7 The first vintage of the second white wine of this estate is supple and rich without heavyness and with a good balance. The aromatic palatte is well expressed but limited. Gault & Millau Edition 2003 Prieuré Saint-Jean de Bébian ****(*) After a career in the wine press, Chantal Lecouty and Jean-Claude Lebrun bought this estate from Alain Roux in 1994. From 1975, Alain Roux restructured the family estate and replanted it with noble varieties to produce wines of a somewhat irregular quality, but which sometimes yielded masterpieces. The new owners continue the tradition of producing high quality wine, while working to regularize and refine the quality. Little by little, the red wine has become the archetype of the greatest mediterranean wines. Very concentrated, it is best after at least 5 years and reaches its peak after 10 years. For its harmony and density, the 2001 has reached a new level reducing the difference between a great wine from Languedoc and one from Bordeaux, which was considered impossible before. The white wines pioneer a style more and more defined. Growing on a limestone soil, and having everything necessary for success the 2000 shows that the cultivation and winemaking process has given good results. Guide du Figaro 2003 Prieuré Saint-Jean de Bébian, Côteaux-du-Languedoc 1993 Noteably different than most wines from Languedoc, this is a wine that ages well. Five to ten years is necessary for the full expression of its nobility and soil. Another difference is its complexity. The varietals come from the Hermitage for the syrah, from the Château Rayas for the grenaches and the 13 varietals of Châteauneuf-du-Pâpe of Tempier at Bandol (for the Mourvèdre). All these are cultivated using the principles of reasonable ecologic processes; A lot of work and inventiveness for a powerfully harmonious wine. GUIDE MELAC 2000 Prieuré Saint-Jean de Bébian 1997 (red) Grenache, syrah, mourvèdre and different grape-varieties including the thirteen of Chateauneuf-du-Pape make up the blending of this elegant vintage Very deep color, red black cherry with a purple-blue disk. This vintage has an intense nose of great complexity which mixes the aromas of liquorice and ripe fruits. It's silky mouth is held by a rich and structured substance. Fullness and velvetiness are revealed at the final... It is the the expression of a future; that of a very, very great wine . A heart-beat! To be tasted slowly, accompanied by T-bone steak and chanterelle mushrooms. Chapelle de Bébian 1997 (red) The blending of carignan, old cinsault vines and young syrah give birth to a fruity wine with a beautiful fullness. The youngest of the wines of this Domaine, is adorned with a very concentrated color. It's deep ruby color is revived by black tints, with a brilliant disk and on thick legs. It's nose has the aroma of well riped prunes. The vintage releases a mouth that is very dense and fleshy and solid structure at the same time. All that allows a wine to have a promising future. The luscious touches of this wine goes well with saddle of lamb, served with fricassed mushrooms.   THE WINE ADVOCATE 31 octobre 1997 1995 Coteaux du Languedoc Prieuré de St. Jean de Bébian. 1995 Coteaux du Languedoc: satured red-ruby, vibrant, precise aromas of dark berries, bacon fat, nutmeg, licorice, orange peel and dark chocolate. Very concentrated and firm initialy, then opened to show a texture of liquid velvet. Still, this very well delineated, deep wine maintains its shape and shows impeccable balance. Finished very long and ripe, with substansial but suave tongue-coated tannins. impressive and satisfying. 92. WINE SPECTATOR Octobre 1997 Prieuré de Saint-Jean de Bébian - Coteaux du Languedoc 1995 A young, powerful and concentrated wine loaded with flavors and beautiful aromas. Start out monolithic, but unfolds to reveal smoky meaty notes, whith a sweet, ripe edge. It also shows anise and chocolate flavors, along with supple tannins, on the lenghty finish. Approachable now, better in 2000 GUIDE PARKER DES VINS DE FRANCE Septembre 1997 "The most grandiose of the classification, the most expensive too, is this of Prieuré de Saint-Jean de Bébian. This last one is, along with Mas de Daumas-Gassac (vin de pays), the reference of all the Languedoc-Roussillon region." < Home