Maison Ventenac - Merlot Steph 2025
Languedoc | red, dry |
Stephanie is for lovers of unconventional Merlot and anyone stubbornly against the classic style.
This wine was made as both a tribute and a little provocation for Stéphanie, the estate owner, who was never a fan of Merlot until this bottle changed her mind. Ripe fruit, softness and roundness, all in one very convincing glass.
Maison Ventenac is a family story from Cabardès, near Carcassonne, now run by Stéphanie and Olivier Ramé. Built on the foundations of a family estate dating back to the 1970s, it takes an open minded approach to wine. They work with varieties that reflect the unique position between the Atlantic and the Mediterranean. The result is wines with plenty of juiciness, balanced by freshness, lightness and a subtle saline edge. Everything is farmed organically with minimal intervention, while in the cellar they are not afraid to experiment in small batches, including wines made without added sulphur. What ties it all together is a simple idea, wine should be fun. And that’s exactly what these wines are like. Approachable, lively and dangerously easy to drink.
Cabardès, Languedoc