Le Haut Lieu Moelleux 2003

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 and 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, which lies four metres deep. The 2003 wine is being launched on the market as an anniversary wine 20 years after the harvest.

Full golden yellow

The Le Haut-Lieu Moelleux 2003 comes from a hot vintage. But while other wines from 2003 have long since passed away, here you can get the feeling that it is only now turning up the heat. A dense fruit of highly ripe pears, apples and quinces, oranges and grapefruits awaits. There is also quince bread, ginger and orange zest. Above all, however, the wine smells of flowers, rocks and lime zest and is therefore fresh.

On the palate, the wine already has a very dense, almost oily texture and it also tastes of yellow-fleshed, ripe fruit packed in crème and patisserie. But even here the Moelleux almost magically takes a turn towards piquancy and freshness. The acidity remains quite ripe. It is rather the tart, savoury notes that give the chenin blanc lend freshness. In any case, the whole thing is a feast that is half a meal in itself, but can congenially accompany various other meals.