All-Out-Dissidence: Red Case - 6 bottles

All of the reds available to us from Maison Ventenac, this is a very special box of wine. From the juicy Steph (easy...) to the spectacular and monumental Patience, this will take you through the south of France with an ever-increasing focus on the Atlantic west-coast as you progress from one bottle to the next.

Maison Ventenac are a young and dynamic winery based in the vineyards of the Ramé family in Cabardès, just north of the city of Carcassonne.

With The Dissenters range, the Ramé family manage their best vineyards in the most natural way possible. Organic viticulture, indigenous yeasts, a respect for biodiversity, with minimum addition of sulfites, and not too much in the way of oak influence.

The top two wines are in this box - Paul and Patience - made from the same grape variety to alarmingly different outcomes: Paul is lean and bright, vibrant and fresh; while Patience is powerful, dense and structured.

We really love and admire the up front and no nonsense messaging in their labels and the reds they produce have a purity, balance, and simplicity that can be hard to find at their price points. It reflects the Ramé family's pushing the boundaries to find ways to express their interpretation of the land.

In this case, we have six reds, one bottle of each:

1. L'Idiot Merlot. A homage to the character Miles from the 2004 film Sideways and the many other wine consuming 'elite' who won't drink Merlot. Made in small batches and blended to a very soft, smooth and delicious wine, showing Merlot's low tannins, plum, red cherry and plum-ripe fruit.
2. Stephanie Merlot. Made for Stephanie, the co-owner of the estate, who's stated dislike for Merlot was in some part the instigation for this wine's production. And she loves it!
   
3. Le Paria Grenache. The Paria or outcast, made from Grenache, at one time a bit of undesirable or outcast variety planted in Cabardès. Previously dismissed as "not ripe enough" for some, or "not in the right place" for others. In the hands of Maison Ventenac, it's "just perfect".
4. Réserve de Jeanne Red Blend. Made as an homage to their situation between the Atlantic and Mediterranean, this is a gorgeous blend of Cabernet Franc and Syrah.
   
5. Paul. This is 100% Old vines Cabernet Franc and is handled really carefully, being fermented in large, flavourless oak vats and terracotta jars, to preserve freshness and fruit flavours. Very impressive, natural wine.
6. Patience.Sumptuous, rich and structured, this wine does infact demand patience - about half an hour of being open before you jump in! Dark fruits, spice and a sublime palate smoothness. Utterly lovely.

If we are out of stock of one of these specific wines, we will replace it with one of the same value or higher, equally delicious and as close in style as we can make it.