Maison Ventenac 'Coup de Sang' 2024

This Cabernet blend is no hot, heavy, soupy mess. Far from it. In fact, the winemakers were so fed up of those styles from the region that Coup de Sang (a rush of blood) was born out of a desire to showcase the finesse and class that Cabernet can have when handled gently and not muddied by the heavy inclusion of alcohol and sulphite additions. Instead, this 50/50 blend of Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc is silky, pure and fruity with a lick of pink peppercorn spice. Abundant with blackcurrant and raspberry fruits, neither light and airy nor rich and full. This is perfectly weighted, soft and harmonious. A great accompaniment to grilled meats or lasagna.

Winemakers Stéphanie & Olivier Ramé, a husband-and-wife team, are the third generation of their family to run the show at Maison Ventenac. Their vineyards are in Cabardès, the only Languedoc appellation that allows both Atlantic and Mediterranean grape varieties, so offering a unique exploration of flavours.

Their specific location around the village of Ventenac-Cabardès is famed for its limestone, chalky soils, which they say gives their wines their saline & fresh characters.

The winemaking philosophy is to allow their unique terroir to shine through in the wines, presenting them as naturally as possible and raising in tuns, terra cotta urns and concrete vats to enhance their purity.