'Les Béguines' was born in 1998 when Jérôme Prévost decided to stop selling his fruit to négociants. The first vintages took cues from the quality-focused farming approach of the early Grower movement and its desire to challenge the region's established practices.
Prévost tends 2.2ha of Pinot Meunier, a variety historically regarded as a simple blending component, alongside a little Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Gris on sand and clay soils in the village of Gueux – a far cry from the chalk terroir that dominates conversations around Champagne.
Fermented with indigenous yeasts and aged in an assortment of old and new barrels of varying sizes (housed in his state-of-the-art winery, 'La Closerie', since 2018), Prévost's wines are bottled without fining or filtration, and with minimal dosage.
Prévost's flagship is the vinous and highly complex 'Les Béguines'. He also makes tiny quantities of 'Fac-Simile'– a weighty, spice-laden rosé to which 10% still red wine is added – as well as the occasional experimental cuvée made with grapes purchased from trusted sources that share his meticulous farming ethos. These are among the region's most compelling and sought-after bottles.
