Le Haut-Lieu demi sec 2020

Le Haut-Lieu is the vineyard that forms the origin of the Huet estate. The Huet family first visited the village of Vouvray in 1928 and were so taken with the estate that now forms the winery, along with the five-hectare Le Haut-Lieu vineyard, that they acquired both and founded the Huet winery. Le Haut-Lieu is located on the plateau of Vouvray and is characterised by deep brown clay with a little flint and chalk in the topsoil. The topsoil is locally called aubuis. The bedrock consists of yellow tuffeau limestone and is four metres deep.

The harvest took place in 2020 between 7 September and 25 September. As the vintage was strongly characterised by sun and warmth, mainly residually sweet wines were produced. As usual, the grapes were meticulously sorted, pressed and spontaneously fermented. Malolactic fermentation took place only in exceptional cases and in individual barrels. The wine was aged in used demi-muids. Demi-Sec for Huet means between 15 and 25 grams of residual sweetness. In this case, it is 20 grams.

medium straw yellow

The Le Haut-Lieu Demi-Sec an open, bright, fragrant and fresh wine with aromas reminiscent of white and yellow flowers, nashi pears, yellow apples and fresh apple cider. There are also notes of damp stone and herbs. Among the three sites, the Le Haut-Lieu always a little Muselan, and this vintage is no exception. Despite an anticipated abundance of aromas, the wine has nothing heavy or opulent about it, but seems lilting and light, yet at the same time it is full of character and seriousness.  

The palate quickly reveals the wonderful balance of sweetness and acidity, and although the Chenin Blanc has 13.5 vol-%, it also seems almost as light on its feet as a Kabinett. The Demi-Sec has a yellow and white-fleshed round fruit that is juicy and creamy and carried by an elegant and finely chiselled acidity and a fresh minerality. Tension and precision, intensity as well as density are evident here, and yet the aforementioned prancing lightness of foot remains with a simultaneously present sweetness.