Le Haut Lieu Moelleux 1ère Trie 2022

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 began in 2022 on 8 September and ended six weeks later (the harvest workers, 24 of them this year, have never harvested for so long). As heatwaves and drought led to very heterogeneously ripening grape material, all varieties of Chenin Blanc could be produced, from the base wine for pétillants to 1er Trie. As usual, the grapes were meticulously sorted, pressed and spontaneously fermented during the many harvest rounds. Malolactic fermentation only took place in exceptional cases and in individual barrels. The wine was matured in used demi-muids.

At Le Haut-Lieu Moelleux »Première Trie« is a residual sweet wine in which the first grapes affected by botrytis have found their way into the wine. In this case, residual sweetness means 95 g/litre.

intense golden yellow

The fact that behind the Clos du Bourg Moelleux »Première Trie« one of the deepest white wines of the Loire can only be guessed at in the aroma of the 2022. The wine opens very discreetly and appears more floral than concentrated. The full fruit is hidden and at most you catch a hint of honey, rocks and pickled kumquats. The Chenin is actually rather cool and stony.

The wine is completely different on the palate. It is gentle, approachable and full of fruit. Ripe, sweet and partly dried peaches, quince, yellow plums, oranges, apples and pears are evident here. Although this fruit appears concentrated, it does not give the impression of a compote. Rather, this still young »Première Trie«, prancing effect. This makes it incredibly seductive. It doesn't look like 95 grams of residual sugar at all, but like a concentration that is balanced by a dark and deep minerality and fine acidity.