Plowing at Domaine Huet

A Small Offer from Domaine Huet: the Lovely 2022s, Moelleux from 2003 & 1993, and More!

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The good news from Domaine Huet is that, unlike in the 2021 vintage, we actually have some wine to offer - but available quantities for these outstanding wines remain tiny. More good new is that the wines are very good, with the estate once again producing primarily demi-sec and moelleux wines despite the modern trend towards dry Chenin.

Vintage 2022

The horrible frosts of 2021 left the vines wanting to produce more buds the following year, and warm weather caused early bud-break in 2022. Frost was again severe, mostly in the western Loire, with Tourane largely spared. Then the hot dry weather began, with the late spring and summer bringing record-breaking heat. Young vines suffered, and ripening was blocked, but most growers in Vouvray still reported the potential for good yields. Then finally rains came in mid-August and the grapes ripened quickly, with harvests in Touraine beginning around September 12th.

"At Domaine Huet there was an appropriately long harvest, lasting more than five weeks, with careful selection in the vines, picking some parcels in two or three tries, in order to facilitate the production of (almost) the entire portfolio of wines. The vintage will see the entire range of sparkling, sec and demi-sec cuvées, with a number of moelleux cuvées, but no Cuvée Constance. The team here tell me they are happy with quality and quantity, which are better than that seen in 2021, and they are particularly pleased and surprised that some lots they picked made suitable base wines for sparkling wine." Chris Kissac in The Wine Doctor

Acidity levels in the finished wines are similar to 2018 and 2020 (Sorry, acid freaks, 2022 is not 1996 or 2008) but alcohol levels are lower, bringing wines that have gorgeous fruit, with adequate freshness and beautiful balance. And of course the great terroir at Domaine Huet, in combination with Biodynamic farming, will bring the potential for superb quality and long-term aging.

Vines in Le Haut-Lieu

2003 Moelleux

I have greatly enjoyed the 2003 moelleux wines from Domaine Huet despite the severe heat of the vintage, with the estate's great farming creating wines with superb terroir expression and fabulous ripeness. An idea of the quality can be found in Kissack's review (from 2016) of the "Le Haut-Lieu" Moelleux 1er Trie: "The aromatics, despite the vintage’s reputation as a heatwave year, are spot on. This is classic evolving première tri Vouvray, a melange of limestone minerals drizzled with a a sweet honey caramel, intertwined with a wonderful citrus freshness and lift. It seems delightfully promising. The palate, I am happy to report, follows on from this first impression quite beautifully, the fruit and minerals resting on a bed of sweet caramel, and although this is not a vintage rich in botrytis I do detect a little note here too. The wine as a whole maintains a very fine balance  throughout."

"Biodynamic agriculture, practiced for more than thirty years, contributes to revealing the very essence of the terroirs in each of our cuvées. Thus, the suppleness of the brown clays of the Haut-Lieu, the chiselled flints of the Mont and the roundness of the limestones of the Clos du Bourg give Chenin an incomparable elegance."  Domaine Huet

Vines in Le Mont

Although production of Moelleux Chenin Blanc has fallen dramatically, especially in Anjou, Domaine Huet has remained committed to creating these extraordinary wines. "Moelleux wines have always had a special place at the estate since its inception; symbols of long aging, those of today will make the great tastings of tomorrow. Producing a Moelleux confers great pride, the feeling of adding a stone to the edifice, the lasting imprint of a generation. Rich and elegant, these wines can be enjoyed and shared today or kept for the next generation..."* Tasting a mature Moelleux from Huet is one of the real pleasures of wine, and I would certainly include an Huet 1921, and an Haut-Lieu 1947 as among my very greatest thrills. So buy a few to enjoy now in their magnificent youth and get a few more to put away for 20, 30, 40 years or as a gift to someone for the future...

Wines willl be available for pick-up or shipping on Friday 8/4. Prices are net, no further discount.

Huet 2022 Vouvray Le Mont Sec

13.5% alochol, 5.7 g/l RS, 4.3 gr/l total, ph 3.12

  • white
  • 3 in stock
  • $50.99

  • Organic
  • Biodynamic

Huet 2022 Vouvray Le Mont Demi-Sec

13.5% alcohol, 21 gr/l RS, 3.9 gr/l total acidity, ph 3.25

  • white
  • 3 in stock
  • no discount
  • $53.99

  • Organic
  • Biodynamic
Sorry, the Following have Already Sold

Huet 2022 Vouvray Le Haut Lieu Sec

13.5% Alcohol, 5.6 gr/l RS, 3.97 g/l total acidity, ph 3.14

  • Out of Stock
  • white
  • 0 in stock
  • $41.99

  • Organic
  • Biodynamic

Huet 2022 Vouvray Le Haut Lieu Demi-Sec

13% alcohol. 18 gr/l RS, 4 gr/l total acidity, ph 3.17

  • Out of Stock
  • white
  • 0 in stock
  • no discount
  • $48.99

  • Organic
  • Biodynamic

Huet 2022 Vouvray Clos du Bourg Demi-Sec

13% alc, 18 gr/l RS, 3.9 gr/l total acidity, ph 3.14

  • Out of Stock
  • white
  • 0 in stock
  • no discount
  • $53.99

  • Organic
  • Biodynamic

Huet 2022 Vouvray Le Haut Lieu Moelleux 1er Trie

11.5% alcohol, 95 gr/l RS, 3.8 gr/l total acidity, ph3.25

  • Out of Stock
  • white sweet
  • 0 in stock
  • no discount
  • $69.99

  • Organic
  • Biodynamic

Huet 2022 Vouvray Le Mont Moelleux 1er Trie

11.5% alcohol, 100 gr/l RS, 3.3 gr/l total acidity, ph 3.42

  • Out of Stock
  • white sweet
  • 0 in stock
  • no discount
  • $79.99

  • Organic
  • Biodynamic

Huet 2003 Vouvray Le Mont Moelleux

12% alcohol, 51 gr/l RS, 4.0 gr/l total acidity, ph 3.18

  • Out of Stock
  • white
  • 0 in stock
  • no discount
  • $109.99

  • Organic
  • Biodynamic

Huet 2003 Vouvray Le Haut Lieu Moelleux 1er Trie

This lovely review of the 2003 Le Haut-Lieu Moelleux 1er Trie is also from Chirs Kissack: "The residual sugar is 90 g/l, says Jean-Bernard Berthomé. The aromatics, despite the vintage’s reputation as a heatwave year, are spot on. This is classic evolving première tri Vouvray, a melange of limestone minerals drizzled with a a sweet honey caramel, intertwined with a wonderful citrus freshness and lift. It seems delightfully promising. The palate, I am happy to report, follows on from this first impression quite beautifully, the fruit and minerals resting on a bed of sweet caramel, and although this is not a vintage rich in botrytis I do detect a little note here too. The wine as a whole maintains a very fine balance too throughout. A very impressive, broad, imposing wine with a long and cleanly balanced finish. Delicious." (Jan 2016)

  • Out of Stock
  • white sweet
  • 0 in stock
  • no discount
  • $149.99

  • Organic
  • Biodynamic
  • Out of Stock
  • white
  • 0 in stock
  • no discount
  • $164.99

  • Organic
  • Biodynamic
  • Out of Stock
  • white sweet
  • 0 in stock
  • no discount
  • $164.99

  • Organic
  • Biodynamic

Huet 1993 Vouvray Haut Lieu Moelleux 1er Trie

The 1993 Huet "Le Haut-Lieu" Moelleux 1er Trie was tasted in 2013 by our friend Chris Kissack: "A rich, very noteworthy orange-golden hue in the glass. The nose is captivating and very typical, with scents of richness, particularly suggesting caramel, laced with nuances of quince and saffron, but also a lightly minerally streak. It does not have a truly heady suggestion of sweetness aromatically, and in fact it seems to be moving towards a drier presentation. This is confirmed on the palate which, although textured, suggests dryness, feeling well-toned rather than lusciously sweet. It is polished, lightly honeyed, quite savoury in some ways, certainly pithy and long and grippy. There are notes of caramelised pears, white pepper, a very lightly mineral edge with a classically honeyed style but also a dry peppery edge. Still very fine, but showing some more obvious maturity. Will go for decades yet though."

  • Out of Stock
  • white sweet
  • 0 in stock
  • no discount
  • $249.99

  • Organic
  • Biodynamic

Huet 2017 Vouvray Le Haut Lieu Sec

Le Haut-Lieu is a 20 acre vineyard of limestone with a thick topsoil of brown clay giving wines supple and open in their youth but also capable of aging. Recent vintages from this important estate have been superb, with winemaker Jean-Bernard Berthomé creating superb wines even in difficult years. The 2017 Le Haut-Lieu Sec is a beautiful wine, showing aromas of pear, beeswax, anise, lemon cream and wet stone, for starters. The palate is round and balanced, with white fruits, stone, citrus zest and honeysuckle, finishing with silky fruit, firm acidity and saline minerals. Delicious now and for aging of ten to fifteen-plus years. Lovely wine!  David Lillie

  • Out of Stock
  • white
  • 0 in stock
  • no discount
  • $46.99

  • Organic
  • Biodynamic

Huet 2017 Vouvray Le Mont Demi-Sec

Le Mont is a 19 acre vineyard just above the Loire with a pebbly, "green" clay and silex soil over the limestone. The 2017 Le Mont Demi-Sec was the hit of our tasting at Racines NY, showing smoky mineral notes with pear, citrus peel, almond and wet stone aromas. The palate shows earthy white fruits with intesnse mineral flavors with great freshness and density, not showing much sweetness. The finish is long and earthy with quince, stone and citrusy acids. Serve now with very saline oysters or grilled fish, best to cellar, drink until 2050 and beyond... David Lillie

  • Out of Stock
  • white
  • 0 in stock
  • no discount
  • $43.99

  • Organic
  • Biodynamic
  • Low Sulfur

Huet 2018 Vouvray Clos du Bourg Sec

As a special Thanksgiving treat, we're happy to offer the rare and beautiful 2018 Huet Vouvray "Clos du Bourg" Sec. In this superb vintage for Vouvray, Domaine Huet produced very little dry wine, prefering to make Demi-Sec and Moelleux in this ripe vintage, but the small amount they made is absolutely gorgeous with lovely aromas of white fruits, flowers and stone. The palate is crystalline and elegant with white fruits and sensational minerality - just a great Chenin and a superb accompaniment to your feast!  2018 Clos du Bourg Sec: 13.7% alc; 4 g/l RS;  4.4 g/l total acidity; pH 3.16

  • Out of Stock
  • white
  • 0 in stock
  • no discount
  • $47.99

  • Organic
  • Biodynamic
  • Low Sulfur

Huet 2018 Vouvray Le Mont Demi-Sec

2018 Le Mont Demi-Sec: 14% alc; 17 g/l RS; 4.0 g/l total acidity; pH 3.23

  • Out of Stock
  • white
  • 0 in stock
  • no discount
  • $43.99

  • Organic
  • Biodynamic

Huet 2018 Vouvray Le Haut-Lieu Demi-Sec

2018 Le Haut-Lieu Demi-Sec: 13.9% alc; 18 g/l RS; 4.1 g/l total acidity; pH 3.25

  • Out of Stock
  • white
  • 0 in stock
  • no discount
  • $39.99

  • Organic
  • Biodynamic