Jérôme Prévost La Closerie Les Beguines Extra Brut LC23

In 1987, Jérôme Prévost inherited "Les Béguines," a 2-hectare plot in the village of Gueux, from his grandmother. For a time, he sold grapes to négociants. Then, encouraged by Anselme Selosse of Jacques Selosse, he made his first wine in 1998 at Selosse's cellar in Avize, moving his winemaking operations to Gueux in 2001. Today, he is regarded as a figure who has fundamentally transformed the standing of the Pinot Meunier grape.

Les Béguines is a single plot planted with massal selection in the late 1950s, before the so-called "super clone" era. It features dark, sandy topsoil over a chalky subsoil. All grapes are hand-harvested and fermented with wild yeasts, then aged in used barriques and 600L demi-muids. Without fining or filtration and with minimal dosage, the wine perfectly expresses the character of one plot, one vintage, and one varietal.

The glass is filled with a deep golden hue, and fine, dense bubbles rise. On the nose, ripe yellow apple, quince, and orange peel emerge first, followed by layers of toasted hazelnut, dried white flowers, brioche, and mushroom. On the palate, a creamy mousse envelops a dense and broad texture, while the characteristic high-pitched floral notes of Meunier ascend. The finish is remarkably long, with a savory salinity and nutty richness, making a single glass feel like an entire course.