Winery: Maison Ventenac is a small family-owned winery located in the village of Ventenac-Cabardes, near Carcassonne in the Languedoc region of southern France. The winery has been in the same family for several generations and is now run by the two brothers, Lionel and Emmanuel Boutié, who have been producing excellent wines since 2001.
 
Winemaker: Lionel Boutié, one of the brothers who run Maison Ventenac, is the winemaker behind La Réserve de Jeanne. He is a passionate winemaker who believes in minimal intervention in the vineyard and the cellar, letting the grapes and the terroir speak for themselves.
 
Region: The Pays d'Oc is a large wine region in southern France that spans over four departments - Aude, Gard, Hérault, and Pyrénées-Orientales. The region benefits from a Mediterranean climate, with long, hot summers and mild winters, which is ideal for growing grapes.
 
Tasting notes: La Réserve de Jeanne is a blend of Syrah, Grenache, and Carignan, which are all harvested by hand. On the nose, this wine offers aromas of blackcurrant, blackberry, and spices. On the palate, it is full-bodied and rich, with flavors of dark fruit, black pepper, and a hint of vanilla. The tannins are firm but well-integrated, giving the wine a long, smooth finish.
 
Production: Maison Ventenac practices sustainable viticulture, using natural fertilizers and avoiding the use of chemical herbicides and pesticides. The grapes for La Réserve de Jeanne are harvested by hand and fermented in temperature-controlled stainless steel tanks, allowing for a slow and gentle fermentation. The wine is then aged in oak barrels for several months before bottling. The result is a well-balanced and elegant wine that showcases the best of the Pays d'Oc region.