Bottler: Domaine Huet, 11 rue de la Croix Buisée, 37210 Vouvray / France
In the glass
Colour
bright golden yellow
Nose
Aromas of ripe apples, pears and quinces, accompanied by nuances of oranges, persimmon, light tobacco, chalk and a subtle hint of mushrooms.
Palate
On the palate, initially silky, calm and opulent, followed by a gripping, juicy acidity that enlivens the yellow fruit and transitions into notes of salted almonds and preserved lemons.
Character
A sensual, concentrated and vibrant sweet wine that, despite its density, possesses a fascinating light-footedness and an enormous ageing potential.
Pairing
Pairs outstandingly with exotic ceviche with octopus, meagre, mango and papaya, steamed banana blossom with coconut rice, as well as a mirabelle plum tart with saffron ice cream.
Notes
Demeter-certified since 1993. The grapes for this rare selection (Première Trie) originate from the estate's biodynamically farmed original vineyard site and were hand-selected in the exceptionally warm 2020 vintage with a fine proportion of noble rot botrytis berries and spontaneously fermented.
Tasting note
Colour & Appearance
A clear, bright golden yellow that reflects the ripe power of the warm vintage in the glass.
Nose
The wine exudes a dense, highly concentrated aromatic profile. Ripe notes of pears, apples and juicy quince mingle with nuances of fresh mushrooms. With a little air, multi-layered tones of oranges, dried herbs, light tobacco, chalk and exotic persimmon emerge.
Palate
On the palate, this Chenin Blanc initially appears opulent, full-bodied and of an incredibly silky, sensual texture. This initial richness is instantly countered by a lively, cutting acidity that provides a magnificent freshness to the rich, yellow fruit. The interplay of delicate sweetness and salty nuances of salted almonds and preserved lemons ensures an enormous drinkability.
Finish
A gripping, long-lasting finish, carried by the chalky freshness of the soil and endowed with enormous ageing potential for the coming decades.
Terroir & Origin
The grapes come from the historical cradle of the estate, the Le Haut-Lieu vineyard site in Vouvray (Loire). The vines are grown on the Vouvray plateau on deep brown clay, interspersed with some flint and chalk in the topsoil (locally called aubuis). The underlying yellow tuffeau limestone bedrock begins at around four metres.
Grape Variety & Vinification
Made from 100% Chenin Blanc. 2020 brought a very early start to the harvest from 7 September. For the noble sweet “Première Trie” (71 g/l residual sugar), the first berries affected by noble rot (botrytis) were extremely meticulously selected by hand. Fermentation was spontaneous, and ageing took place in used demi-muids in the cool, historic rock cellars of the estate.
Food Pairings
Outstanding with exotic ceviche with octopus, meagre, mango and papaya, with steamed banana blossom with coconut rice and mango or as a dessert pairing with a classic mirabelle plum tart with saffron ice cream and orange zest.
Special Features
Domaine Huet has been working biodynamically since the late 1980s and has been a proud holder of the Demeter certification since 1993. This legendary cuvée is only produced in exceptional years when the weather allows for the perfect development of botrytis.
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