From: Cabardès, Languedoc, France
Varietal: Chardonnay
Taste and Critical Acclaim: “A modern chardonnay from Languedoc aged in barrels. Who would have thought it, the wood is so discreet! Aromatic, chiseled and terribly fresh…”
“Light floral aromas and a meet up of honeydew melon, baked pear and honey flavors on the palate. This is a rich and creamy wine without being too full bodied, helped by a vibrant acid balance.” —Wine Enthusiast, 91 points (December 2023)
An aromatic nose with notes of white flowers and citrus fruits. The palate is fresh, mineral, this ample and fleshy wine is generous, notes of candied lemon accompany the long finish.
Pairing: This shockingly gorgeous Chardonnay from the Languedoc will be a hit on the porch or at the table. It’s incredibly versatile, and pairs effortlessly with seafood, veggies, light pasta or rice dishes, poultry, salads, snacks, and Mediterranean-inspired fare. See the quote (and recipe for Lobster with Pasta and Mint) below for more pairing ideas!
“When it comes to characterful and distinctive Chardonnay wines, the Maison Ventenac team certainly knows where it’s at. This rich yet elegant white is going to work brilliantly with a wide range of dishes and ingredients, including seafood recipes featuring crab, lobster and Moreton Bay bug, creamy pasta with chicken breast, pancetta or white fish, Thai green curries and classic risottos. We also loved it with vegetarian and fish tacos, guacamole and roast poultry with mushrooms, demonstrating its impressive versatility and fabulous flavour profile.” –Good Pair Days (based in Sydney, Australia)
Lobster With Pasta and Mint
By Mark Bittman
About. The Ventenac estate is located in the heart of the Cabardès appellation, not far from the city of Narbonne. The estate farms a total of 160 hectares—30 hectares of which are rented—against the Montagne Noire mountain range at the southwestern end of the Massif Central. The area sits at the crossroads between Mediterranean and Atlantic weather patterns (winds), with the Languedoc sun all year long combined with cooler Atlantic influences.
Maison Ventenac has committed to a sustainable agricultural approach certified by the leading organization ‘TERRA VITIS.’ However, building on a desire to respect the land even further, the estate doesn’t use any chemical inputs on their soils. This transition has been underway since 2015, and almost all of the estate is now weeded mechanically. Their vineyards enjoy sufficient rainfall, and are therefore planted at a high density (6500 vines per hectare) to enable the vine to regulate its own yield and achieve better grape concentration.
The village of Ventenac-Cabardès and the surrounding region are famed for the distinctive nature of the limestone vein running through them. The vines—planted on hillsides around Maison Ventenac—benefit fully from this very special soil structure, formed 50 million years ago when this area was still beneath the Mediterranean. This white limestone, very chalky and brittle in appearance, gives their wines a mineral, saline, and fresh character. Their work therefore consists of humbly preserving this extraordinary potential in their wines. As a result, very little oak is used to preserve the primary expression of the terroir.
