The Domaine Huet Le Haut-Lieu demi-sec 2020, an off-dry Chenin Blanc from Vouvray, reveals a fascinating harmony of juicy fruit and a fine acidic structure.
Bottler: Domaine Huet, 11 rue de la Croix Buisée, 37210 Vouvray / France
In the glass
Colour
Medium straw yellow.
Nose
Pale blossoms, Nashi pear, yellow apple and apple cider, underlined by herbs and damp stone.
Palate
Juicy and creamy with balanced residual sweetness, supported by delicate acidity and a mineral drive.
Character
Dancing and nimble despite dense fruit, full of tension and elegant freshness.
Pairing
Blinis with trout caviar and crème fraîche, wild partridge terrine with quince jam, or prawn kebabs.
Notes
Produced from the historic founding vineyard Le Haut-Lieu using biodynamic viticulture (Demeter-certified) on deep clay and tuffeau limestone.
Tasting note
Colour & Appearance
Medium straw yellow.
Nose
An open, extraordinarily fresh bouquet pours from the glass: nuances of white and yellow blossoms meet juicy Nashi pear, yellow apples and subtle cider. Beneath this bright fruit lies a cool undercurrent of damp stone and wild herbs – the style almost brings to mind the dancing lightness of the Mosel.
Palate
On the palate, the full skill of this traditional Vouvray producer comes to light. Despite 13.5% abv, the yellow- and white-fleshed fruit feels weightless. The 20 grams of residual sugar are seamlessly interwoven with a finely chiseled acidity. The wine displays a creamy, rounded texture, dense intensity and a vibrancy that gives it remarkable tension.
Terroir & Origin
Le Haut-Lieu is the cradle of Domaine Huet on the Première Côte of Vouvray. The soil is characterised by deep brown clay (aubuis) with a touch of flint and chalk in the topsoil, resting upon yellow tuffeau limestone four metres below. This terroir gives the Chenin Blanc its profound minerality and masterly structure.
Grape Variety & Vinification
100% Chenin Blanc from the sunny 2020 vintage. The grapes were meticulously selected, wild-fermented and aged in used demi-muids. As a Demeter-certified pioneer, the estate has been working biodynamically since 1993. Cellar master Benjamin Joliveau allows the wines plenty of time to mature in the deep tuffeau rock cellars.
Food Pairing
Pairs brilliantly with blinis served with trout caviar and crème fraîche. It also forms a refined partnership with wild partridge pâté with quince jam and Szechuan pepper or spicy grilled prawn kebabs.
Key Features
The fascinating balance between natural acidity and charming residual sweetness makes this Demi-Sec appear almost weightless. A Chenin Blanc of immense longevity that will only gain in complexity over the next ten to thirty years.
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