La Closerie
Champagne
La Closerie perfectly embodies the notion of exclusivity, as its bottles can be remarkably hard to find. Jérôme Prévost, the winemaker, is rightly regarded as a specialist of Pinot Meunier, crafting wines of rare refinement and unforgettable emotional depth.
Gueux, Montagne de Reims - Pinot Meunier Specialist
Jérôme Prévost has transformed the perception of a grape variety long considered secondary. Since taking over in 1998 the small two-hectare vineyard inherited from his grandmother in Les Béguines, in Gueux, he has established an alternative model within Champagne: that of a thoughtful grower, deeply respectful of his terroir, producing in extremely limited quantities. His radical approach, one single parcel, one single grape variety, one single harvest, has placed La Closerie at the heart of the movement to revalorize Pinot Meunier.
Les Béguines, planted in the late 1950s using massal selection predating the era of commercial clones, provides Prévost with exceptional raw material. Located on the Petite Montagne, this well-exposed and well-drained parcel produces a delicate yet structured fruit, with a mineral signature characteristic of the limestone soils of the area.
Terroirs
Les Béguines forms the entire production base of La Closerie. Its two hectares rest on a limestone subsoil typical of the Montagne de Reims, with an optimal south-east exposure that favors the gradual ripening of Meunier.
Viticulture
Prévost has followed a sustainable, organic approach in the vineyard from the outset. No herbicides, no insecticides. Regular ploughing maintains ecological balance. Yields are intentionally kept low.
Vinification
Harvesting is manual, with spontaneous fermentation using indigenous yeasts. The juice ferments in second or third-fill barrels and in 600-liter demi-muids. Sulfur additions remain minimal.
Ageing
The wine rests between three and four years in the cellar before disgorgement. Disgorgement is carried out with no dosage or with only an infinitesimal dosage.
Style and ageing potential
Jérôme Prévost’s Champagnes embody an energetic lightness. Natural acidity is vibrant, while primary aromas such as white peach, linden blossom, and chalk remain at the forefront. The wines evolve gracefully over ten to fifteen years.
FAQ
Why Pinot Meunier?
Prévost inherited the parcel planted with Meunier and chose to elevate and celebrate what he had.
Are the Champagnes zero dosage?
Yes, either zero dosage or a near-homeopathic level of dosage.
How many bottles are produced each year?
Between 3,000 and 5,000 bottles depending on the vintage.