This wine came about by the Ramé family reassessing their prejudices - much they way they have gone about railing against those of the rest of the Languedoc, it seems. In this instance Olivier found that he didn't like barrel aged white wines, so he set out to prove himself wrong. Or right... This is fresh, mineral and crisp Chardonnay that is a superb balance of place and winemaking, marrying maritime influences with Burgundian winemaking practices.
Maison Ventenac is a young and dynamic project based in the vineyards of the Ramé family in Cabardès, north of the city of Carcassonne, at the (fairly wild) west of the Languedoc. Characterised by the split in place between Atlantic and Mediterranean bodies of water, their vineyards are likewise split between the Atlantic (Cabernets, Merlot and Malbec) and the Mediterranean (Syrah, Grenache, Carignan, Cinsault and Mourvedre).
Limestone forms the sub-soil in the best parts of the family's vineyards, together with their dense planting of vines and the relatively wet winters in the region, there is a real sense of excitement for the future of the region. In organic conversion, the rewards for this winery are only beginning to be seen.
What we really like about them though is their honesty - they love all that they do, but what they like most is Cabernet Franc - certainly not a Mediterranean grape and the third grape of the Atlantic, this variety seems to really blossom in the hands of the Ramé family.
This sense of discovery, as seen in this finding of Cabernet Franc's place in their vineyards, is present in all they do, from respect to terroir, to the non-use of chemical sprays, to admitting their own prejudices, to celebrating underdog varieties - it's clearly a key part of their success.
Region: Languedoc
Country: France
Grape(s): Chardonnay
Style: Organic, Medium Bodied, Fresh, Bright
Best food matches: Shellfish, Seafood, Scallops, Salads, Poultry, Hard Cheeses, Cheeses, Charcuterie, Aperitif
Alcohol: 13%
