2019 Julien Prével Montjouis

WINEMAKER: Julien Prével
REGION: Loire Valley, FR
VARIETAL: Chenin Blanc
VITICULTURE: Organic

"Easily one of our favourite wines every year that is beginning to make a name for itself. Chenin Blanc from a very old parcel planted on limestone rich soils in Montlouis, whole bunch pressed to very old barrels where it stayed for two years before being gently transferred to bottle. The 2019 has oxidative characters that have developed during its time in barrel (if you're familiar of the wines of Jean-Pierre Robinot this character is not too dissimilar). The aromas are transfixing. There is a little sugar left in the wine as well that balances the acidity and oxy notes. It's such a complete wine that could live forever." - Tom Van Beem, Importer

Julien Prevel’s road to farming vineyards and making wine in Montlouis-sur-Loire is far from conventional. Originally from Angers, Julien left to study history and geography in Normandy before winding up back in the Loire in 2010 to farm vegetables near Tours. The following year he landed a job pruning Frantz Saumon’s vineyard and the year following he was offered the opportunity to tend to a 20-acre vineyard which had until then been tended by Stéphane Cossais, an incredible natural vigneron who tragically passed away in 2009. Julien now farms a total of 2.5 hectares of Chenin Blanc, Cot and Gamay. The wines are made in the old cellar of Stéphane Cossais — a former quarry turned into a working cellar many centuries ago — without any additions.