Domaine Ventenac Prejuges Chardonnay 2022

The Préjugés is a clever take on how Chardonnay is perceived. In this world, Chardonnay is buttery and creamy with a nod to this classical style. The wine starts off closed, so give it plenty of coaxing and out comes a waft of herbs and then the dairy tones of churned butter and creamy texture. The fruit takes some time to come out, but when it does, you are rewarded with some lovely peachy tones. Maison Ventenac is a modern winery with all the bells and whistles (concrete eggs and fancy tanks), located in the region of Cabardes, which is part of the larger Languedoc in France’s South West. Cabardes as a region has put all its eggs into an unusual basket, where the wines need to be a blend of Grenache and Syrah (usually found in the Rhone) and Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc (usually found in Bordeaux). A blend of these proportions would be commonplace in Australia however Cabardes is one of the few in France that mix these regional grapes together.