Le Mont Moelleux 2023

Wine Description for Le Mont Moelleux 2023 by Huet

Colour & Appearance

Emerging golden yellow – a colour that already announces the concentration and noble-sweet character of this extraordinary Chenin Blanc.

Nose

Dense, dark, impressively complex. The 2023 Le Mont Moelleux presents itself noticeably riper than its Demi-Sec counterpart: quinces, kumquats and mango meet brown sugar, stone and smoke. Despite the ripeness, everything remains precisely ordered, elegant and multifaceted – an aromatic profile that commands respect.

Palate

Here the true greatness of the terroir reveals itself. With 74 grams of residual sugar – more than three times that of the Demi-Sec – one might expect heaviness. Instead: perfect balance. The bespoke acidity and the dark minerality of the quartzite keep the ripe, sweet fruit in check. The wine possesses genuine grip, a clear phenolic structure, rich stone fruit, along with bitter notes of kumquats, bitter oranges, tobacco and stone. Everything feels accomplished, harmonious, beautiful – a word one rarely uses at this intensity.

Terroir & Origin

Le Mont lies on the Première Côte of Vouvray, south-facing, documented as far back as the 15th century. The nine hectares are owned exclusively by Huet (acquired 1957). The soil: several metres deep, pebbly flint (locally called perron) in deep green clay over Turonian tuff limestone. A terroir of extraordinary minerality.

Grape Variety & Vinification

100% Chenin Blanc, spontaneously fermented, aged in used Demi-Muids. In 2023, the cherry vinegar fly presented an enormous challenge: every berry was individually inspected, at least 25% of the harvest discarded. Multiple harvest passes, meticulous selection – a rigorous quality management that pays off.

Food Pairing Suggestions

Classically with blue cheese such as Roquefort, foie gras, caramelised pears or apple tarte Tatin. Also intriguing: spicy Asian cuisine with sweet-spicy contrasts or aged Comté.

Special Characteristics

A Moelleux of rare elegance despite 74 grams of residual sugar – proof that great terroirs and uncompromising vineyard work can transform sweetness into finesse. A wine with considerable ageing potential.