Domaine Huet 2020 Vouvray Demi-Sec, Le Haut-Lieu, AOC

Domaine Huet 2020 Vouvray Demi-Sec, Le Haut-Lieu, AOC

Item Number: 15496

UPC: None

Country: France
Region: Loire
Sub Region: Touraine
Appellation/AVA: Vouvray AOC
Estate Grown Wine: Yes
Vineyard Designation: Le Haut-Lieu Vineyard
Vintage: 2020
Grape(s): 100% Chenin Blanc
Type: Wine - White
Bottle Size: 750 ml
Pack: 12
Closure: Cork
Alc by Vol(%): 13.5
Viticulture: Certified Biodynamic

Le Haut-Lieu Vineyard: The original Huet vineyard, purchased in 1928, is nearly 9 HA. It has the richest soils of the domaine’s three crus—a deep limestone-clay—and the wines are generally the estate’s most approachable. This vineyard is on the plateau, one of the highest points of the appellation with a slight south-facing gradient. Biodynamic since 1993.

Harvest: Manual
Pressing: Direct and gently
Yeast: Indigenous
Vessel: Combination of vats and old barrels

Vintage Report by Wine Advocate 5/2021 (click to read full article) : "...As we know from vintages dating back 92 years at Domaine Huet, it is the vintage that decides the styles of the Vouvrays produced here. 'Our production changes every year and is adapted to what nature allows,' confirms Sarah, stressing that 'it remains vital that the wines remain pure, energetic and balanced, and that we highlight our terroirs through the lens of each growing season.'

In 2020, the reserve of rainwater, combined with the warm winter and hot summer, meant that the vines had ample resources to provide to the bunches. This was very much in contrast to 2019, which saw a very dry season without water reserves in the earth.

As always, the fruit at Huet is seductive, fine and elegant. And the wines themselves show no inaccuracies and are as precise, clear and elegant as ever. The rich Première Trie selections are intense and concentrated but need years to reach the first maturity. Already suitable for enjoyment is the always energetic Le Mont Sec, but there are also the three Demi-Secs, although these will also gain in complexity with the years. The Le Mont Première Trie is a stunning beauty, and the Clos du Bourg Première Trie is not far behind. These are exceptional wines.

No matter which Huet you buy from 2020, disappointment is impossible. Biodynamically cultivated since 1988, the Chenins of Domaine Huet remain icon wines of French wine culture, even under the ownership of the Hwang family."

Reviews

  • The Wine Advocate
    Rating: (95-96) (5/13/2021)
    The 2020 Vouvray Le Haut-Lieu Demi-Sec is clear, pure, subtle, deep and fresh, with highly refined chalky/sandy lemon aromas. Rich and intense yet silky textured and refined on the concentrated palate, this is a juicy, highly elegant, perfectly balanced, persistently salty and mouth-salivating Haut-Lieu with very fine tannins and a long, firm and pretty powerful but elegant and complex finish. Still more stringent than the Le Mont Demi-Sec in the beginning, but after aeration, this is not just a greatly finessed Chenin but one of the finest Haut-Lieu's I have tasted from Huet.
  • Vinous
    Rating: (95-97) (3/1/2021)
    Pear and pineapple aromas meet fine, floral characters in the 2020 Demi-Sec Le Haut-Lieu. While this wine's edges are rounded, it is refined and elegant. It has a sense of density on the mid-palate, but it's not about weight or richness despite its demi-sec status. The wine has an intensity and a structured core reflecting the naturally low yields here. While there is 20g/L of residual sugar, a sense of freshness and underlying urgency pulls this wine through, leaving an off-dry impression.
  • The Wine Spectator
    Rating: 96 (9/1/2021)
    This broad, striking white is elegant and rich with complexity, featuring green melon, yellow fig, ginger and verbena notes, underscored with heather, stone, flint and spice details. Offers great energy and tension, showcasing expert craftsmanship. Drink now through 2036.