Prieuré de Montézargues

Prieuré de Montézargues is a historic wine estate and former Grandmontine priory located in Tavel, in the Gard department of Provence, France. Its vineyard covers 32 hectares on predominantly sandy soils, and it produces mainly Tavel, a celebrated rosé appellation. The estate is owned by the Richard family, which also owns Château La Nerthe in Châteauneuf-du-Pape and Domaine de La Renjarde in Sérignan-du-Comtat. The priory was founded on 30 January 1199 by Bernard, a monk of Grandmont, after he received the land of Montézargues from Guillaume II de Sabran and obtained the right to build a priory under the rule of Saint Stephen of Muret. The monks also secured fishing rights on the Étang de Pujaut. By 1295 only three religious remained, and in 1317 the priory was united with Montaubérou near Montpellier; it separated again in 1518. In the mid-14th century, Pope Innocent VI, who favoured the wines of the right bank of the Rhône, brought the priory's wines to the papal table. The estate's wines are said to be the only ones, along with those of Clos-Vougeot, to have been officially identified as present on the papal table during the Avignon papacy. In the 17th and 18th centuries the priory suffered from the depredations of royal soldiers garrisoned at Villeneuve-lès-Avignon; in 1675 the prior d'Estival complained to Louis XIV, and Louvois issued an ordinance placing the priory under royal protection, renewed in 1685 and 1711. Around 1897 Émile Tourtin, a former photographer turned winegrower, settled there and in 1902 became the first president of the Syndicat de propriétaires-viticulteurs des vins de Tavel. Since the 2000s the priory has belonged to the Richard family. The vineyard has been managed by Guillaume Dugas since 2003. The encépagement is composed of Grenache (55%), Cinsault (30%), Clairette (13%), with 2% Syrah, Mourvèdre, Carignan and Bourboulenc. The light, filtering sandy soils give the wine finesse and elegance. The estate is marketed through the Domaines Richard portfolio, which presents it as 'Un Éden Provençal' — a Provençal Eden charged with history, protected by surrounding vegetation and thick enclosing walls, giving the impression of being cut off from the world. Tavel itself is described as the '1er rosé de France', and the history of Tavel rosé, which King Philip the Fair called 'king of rosés', dates back to Roman times.

The priory of Montézargues, also called a 'celle' (from Latin cella, monastic cell), was founded on 30 January 1199 by Bernard, a monk of Grandmont. In conflict with Abbot Adémar I of Friac, he had gone to Rome to present his case to Pope Innocent III. The pontiff reserved judgment, and the Grandmontine monk recrossed the Alps. On his return journey he stopped at Avignon, where his cause was heard. Bernard and his brothers received the place of Montézargues, in the parish of Tavel, from Guillaume II de Sabran, with a mill, its millrace and woods as endowment, and obtained from Rostaing, Bishop of Avignon, the right to build a priory under the rule of Saint Stephen of Muret, founder of their order. Shortly after settling, the monks asked for and obtained fishing rights in the Étang de Pujaut. Informed of this arrangement, Innocent III enjoined the Abbot of Grandmont to receive this new foundation into his order; he complied. In 1295 only three religious remained, which required that in 1317 the priory of Montézargues be united with that of Montaubérou, at the gates of Montpellier. In the mid-14th century, Pope Innocent VI, who had a particular predilection for the wines of the right bank of the Rhône, brought those of the priory to the papal table. In 1518 Montézargues separated from Montaubéron. Held in commendam, this wine estate endured. But during the 17th and 18th centuries it suffered from the rapacity of the king's soldiers garrisoned at Villeneuve-lès-Avignon. In 1675 the prior d'Estival lodged a complaint with Louis XIV to prevent his troops stationed at Fort Saint-André from damaging the priory's property. In response, Louvois published, on 27 September 1675, an ordinance placing the priory under royal protection. This protection was renewed on 6 May 1685, then on 10 July 1711 by the Duke of Roquelaure, lieutenant of the king in Languedoc. The governor had an ordinance published threatening the death penalty for any soldier of the king who damaged the property and woods of the priory. Around 1897, Émile Tourtin, a former photographer recently converted to viticulture, settled there. Appointed in 1902 as the first president of the Syndicat de propriétaires-viticulteurs des vins de Tavel, he is still recorded at the Montézargues estate in 1926. Since the 2000s, the priory has been the property of the Richard family, which also owns Château La Nerthe in Châteauneuf-du-Pape and Domaine de La Renjarde, which produces a Côtes-du-Rhône Villages in Sérignan-du-Comtat. The vineyard, managed by Guillaume Dugas since 2003, currently extends over 32 hectares. It produces mainly Tavel on a terroir composed essentially of sand. These light, filtering soils give the wine finesse and elegance. The encépagement is composed of Grenache (55%), Cinsault (30%), Clairette (13%). Syrah, Mourvèdre, Carignan and Bourboulenc enter the vinification at the level of 2%.

• 2003

  Guillaume Dugas began managing the vineyard.

• 2000

  Since the 2000s, the priory has been owned by the Richard family.

• 1902

  Émile Tourtin appointed first president of the Syndicat de propriétaires-viticulteurs des vins de Tavel.

• 1897

  Émile Tourtin, a former photographer turned winegrower, settled at the estate.

• 1711

  Royal protection renewed on 10 July by the Duke of Roquelaure.

• 1685

  Royal protection renewed on 6 May.

• 1675

  Louvois issued an ordinance on 27 September placing the priory under royal protection after the prior d'Estival complained to Louis XIV.

• 1518

  Montézargues separated from Montaubéron.

• Priory founded on 30 January by Bernard, a monk of Grandmont, after receiving the land of Montézargues from Guillaume II de Sabran.

• Only three religious remained at the priory.

• Priory united with Montaubérou near Montpellier.

Historic Provençal wine estate producing Tavel rosé, marketed as a secluded 'Provençal Eden' with papal-table heritage.

• Tavel AOC rosé

  Main production of the 32-hectare vineyard on sandy soils.

1. 1Prieuré de Montézargues - Vin de Tavel - Un éden Provençaldomainesrichard.fr
2. 2Prieuré de Montézarguesfr.wikipedia.org
3. 3Prieuré de Montézargueswikidata.org
4. 4Situation & histoire - "Curius" - Création Richarddomainesrichard.fr
5. 5Château Victoria - Un Haut-Médoc Confidentieldomainesrichard.fr
6. 6Château La Nerthe - Châteauneuf-du-Pape - Cinq siècles d'élégancedomainesrichard.fr