Huet | Loire | Le Haut-Lieu demi-sec | 2020 | 750ml | bio

Beschreibung

Product description for Huet Le Haut-Lieu demi-sec 2020 (bio)

Christoph Raffelt: On the palate, the approximately 18 grams of sweetness are excellently buffered by the acidity. Despite its 13.5% alcohol content, the wine seems almost as floating as a Kabinett, and that is fascinating. The Demi-sec is so juicy, so creamy, and at the same time so elegant, with finely chiseled acidity and a fresh minerality that, like all components in Huet’s wines, is not initially noticeable as an individual ingredient, but rather as part of the consistently harmonious overall composition. Here, too, one is willing to pour more and quickly consume any supply, even though the wine naturally has great future potential.

Information about the wine

The Haut-Lieu is the vineyard that forms the origins of the Huet winery. The Huet family first visited the village of Vouvray in 1928 and was so impressed by the property that now forms the winery, including the five-hectare Le Haut-Lieu vineyard, that they acquired both and founded the Huet winery. Le Haut-Lieu is located on the Vouvray plateau and is characterized by deep brown clay with some flint and chalk in the topsoil. The topsoil is called aubuis locally. The bedrock consists of yellow tuffeau limestone and lies four meters deep. The 2020 harvest took place between September 7 (the earliest date in the winery’s history) and September 25. Because the vintage was characterized by strong sunshine and warmth, the wines produced were primarily sweet. As usual, the grapes were meticulously sorted, pressed, and fermented spontaneously. Malolactic fermentation only occurred in exceptional cases and in individual barrels. The wine was aged in used demi-muids. At Huet, Demi-Sec means between 15 and 25 grams of residual sugar. In this case, it’s 20 grams.

Colour

Medium straw yellow

Nose

Le Haut-Lieu Demi-Sec is an open, bright, fragrant, and fresh wine, with aromas reminiscent of white and yellow blossoms, Nashi pears, yellow apples, and fresh apple cider. Added to this are notes of damp stone and herbs. Among the three vineyards, Le Haut-Lieu always has a hint of the Moselle region, and this vintage is no different. Despite an anticipated abundance of aromas, the wine has nothing heavy or opulent about it; instead, it appears prancing and light, yet at the same time it is full of character and serious.

Palate

The wonderful balance of sweetness and acidity quickly becomes apparent on the palate, and although the Chenin Blanc has an ABV of 13.5%, it also seems almost as light-footed on the palate as a Kabinett. The Demi-Sec features yellow and white-fleshed, round fruit that is juicy and creamy, supported by an elegant and finely chiseled acidity and a fresh minerality. Tension and precision, intensity and density are evident here, yet the aforementioned prancing lightness remains with a simultaneously present sweetness.

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Keywords: Huet Le Haut-Lieu demi-sec 2020 bio Loire France

Wine Advocate

Score: (95-96)

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.
Stephan Reinhardt

Vinous

Score: 93

The 2020 Haut Lieu Demi-Sec offers a lick of juicy sweetness in its plump mid-palate but don’t expect it to be heavy. It has a delightful texture that will leave you licking your lips and the inside of your mouth on the finish, giving an almost gourmand character. Fragrant, floral and fruity with pineapple, nectarine and florals. Fine, fresh and drawn out on the finish.
— Rebecca Gibb MW
Drinking window: 2022 – 2040
Review date: Sep 2022

Producer website: https://www.domainehuet.com/