This is the third release of Prévost’s négociant-manipulant cuvée, which was born during the frost-ravaged 2017 season. Where the first two releases were 100% Pinot Meunier sourced from Prévost’s neighbours in Gueux, 2021 was sourced from a number of vineyards in the Côte des Blancs, including a good share from the Cramant Grand Cru. Readers will be aware that when Prévost does work with purchased fruit, he only works with growers that emphasise cultivated soils, low yields and full ripeness. He always works in close collaboration with them, i.e. both harvest date and sorting of the grapes are in Jérôme’s hands.
The winemaking for this label remains exactly the same as the estate label, using indigenous yeasts and fermenting and raising in a mix of used barrels of all sizes from 225 to 600 litres. He neither racks, filters nor stabilises the wine. He uses 23 g/L for the secondary fermentation, then gives the wine up to 18 months of bottle age before disgorging by hand, with around 2 g/L. Please note that Jérôme told us that in 2022, this label will return to its original sourcing. So there you have it, another Prévost collector’s item!