Domaine Huet, Vouvray Demi-Sec, Le Haut-Lieu, Loire, France, 2020

Overview of the Wine
Since its founding in 1928, Vouvray’s Domaine Huet has been the standard-bearer for great, age-worthy Chenin Blanc. And to this day, year after year, the estate produces some of the world’s most compelling white wines—and in a remarkable range that spans sparkling, dry, semi-dry, and breathtaking dessert styles.

Today, Domaine Huet may be making its most consistently great wines. As was one of the earliest adopters of biodynamic practices, and with years of experience working with the appellation's greatest terroirs, winemaker Jean-Bernard Berthome and his team are achieving a fascinating level of transparency, purity, and knife-edged balance in the wines.

Biodynamic.

Winemaker
Jean-Bernard Berthome

Grape / Blend
Chenin Blanc

Origin
Vouvray, Touraine, Loire, France

Winemaker's Tasting Notes
Revealing the soul of a single grape that takes root even in the tuffeau, the half-ecec vibrates and resonates in the mouth such as a taste echo, the natural sugar and acidity of the Chenin mingling harmoniously. Aerial and complex, it is enjoyable young on the fruit but is also gradually unveiled to those who know how to wait.

97 Points - Vinous
Pear and pineapple aromas meet fine, floral characters in the 2020 Demi-Sec Le Haut-Lieu. While this wine's edges are rounded, it is refined and elegant. It has a sense of density on the mid-palate, but it's not about weight or richness despite its demi-sec status. The wine has an intensity and a structured core reflecting the naturally low yields here. While there is 20g/L of residual sugar, a sense of freshness and underlying urgency pulls this wine through, leaving an off-dry impression. Unfinished sample.

96 Points - Wine Advocate
The 2020 Vouvray Le Haut-Lieu Demi-Sec is clear, pure, subtle, deep and fresh, with highly refined chalky/sandy lemon aromas. Rich and intense yet silky textured and refined on the concentrated palate, this is a juicy, highly elegant, perfectly balanced, persistently salty and mouth-salivating Haut-Lieu with very fine tannins and a long, firm and pretty powerful but elegant and complex finish. Still more stringent than the Le Mont Demi-Sec in the beginning, but after aeration, this is not just a greatly finessed Chenin but one of the finest Haut-Lieu's I have tasted from Huet. Tasted as a tank sample in April 2021.

96 Points - Wine Spectator
This broad, striking white is elegant and rich with complexity, featuring green melon, yellow fig, ginger and verbena notes, underscored with heather, stone, flint and spice details. Offers great energy and tension, showcasing expert craftsmanship. Drink now through 2036. 4,100 cases made.

94 Points - James Suckling
Lots of caramelized pear and almond character makes this excellent Vouvray demi-sec hard to resist. Wonderful freshness on the succulent, medium-bodied palate. Very long finish in which the creamy and vibrant elements are beautifully interwoven. From biodynamically grown grapes. Drink or hold.

Product size: 750ml