This year’s Ventabren shows an explosive nose of spiced cherry, bay leaf, and tobacco bursting from the glass. On the palate, flavors of kirsch, pink peppercorn, and lavender unfold with graceful intensity, while a subtle savory tone lingers on the finish. This is what makes the wines of Jean-Baptiste Meunier so compelling—the fruit shines brightly, yet the savory nuances bring perfect balance and a vivid sense of terroir.

This could be called the big brother of the "Tradition" as it's fuller, rounder and deeper. It offers the juiciness of the vintage with an impressive overall complexity that makes this a truly oustanding wine. I love the overall balance and complexity of this "Ventabren" and am reminded why this remains a staff and customer favorite.

Another absolutely lovely bottle coming out of the Rhone, I'm excited and a little surprised with how much I enjoyed this whole tasting and this was absolutely a highlight. I always love when our direct imports show so well, and this one was showing great today. The nose has some pretty fruit, but a lot of really lovely dried herbs, it's just so well rounded and there's this pretty density at the very tail end that goes a touch floral with a sort of bay leaf note somewhere flying in the back. This is the kind of wine that I want to sit down to some braised meat with, it's got enough fruit to complicate but savory enough to match and pair. Just great.