I went to this tasting late last year and was so pleased to get the chance to try the wines as well as hear from the current Domaine Huet Jean-Bernard Berthomé and president Sarah Hwang. I found them both to be really passionate and proud to present the wines to the gathered trade and would like to thank them for taking the time to come and speak with us in Sydney.
- 2013 Domaine Huet Vouvray Sec Le Haut-Lieu – France, Loire Valley, Touraine, Vouvray
5g/l residual sugar. Lemon soap, mint, apple and a light earth quality. Open and quite weighty fruit, this has a fullness and density to the mouthfeel, but the acid does cut through nicely and with almost equal intensity. Should be better with a couple of years to settle. 90/100 - 2013 Domaine Huet Vouvray Sec Clos du Bourg – France, Loire Valley, Touraine, Vouvray
Flint, apple, pear, white florals and light salinity on the nose. The mineral character is present on the palate as well, but there is more richness to the fruit and that prevents it from feeling too wound up. Has a nice texture and has appeal already, but will certainly improve at least over the medium term. Shows the quality of the vineyard to come up with a wine of this quality from a very tough vintage. 92/100 - 2012 Domaine Huet Vouvray Sec Le Mont – France, Loire Valley, Touraine, Vouvray
Aromas of peach, violet, light nuttiness and earth. The palate shows nice fruit purity and elegance initially and then through the mid palate, but the intensity fades towards the finish. I liked it but it did seem weaker than the wines next to it. I would like to see how it develops. 88/100 - 1998 Domaine Huet Vouvray Sec Le Haut-Lieu – France, Loire Valley, Touraine, Vouvray
Light golden colour. Ginger, quince, apple, almond and earth – this has plenty of interest from the aromatics. Still has good structure on the palate, the acidity really drives it through and lends it brightness. With more depth to the fruit this would be stunning. Another difficult vintage according to the winery, and this pre-dates the use of a sorting table (only being selected on the vine in 98) but another great wine that is drinking well now and should continue to do so over the next 5-6 years. 91/100
- 2007 Domaine Huet Vouvray Demi-Sec Le Mont – France, Loire Valley, Touraine, Vouvray
20g/l residual sugar. Apricot, honey, apple pie and ginger on the nose. The ripeness in conjunction with the sugar is quite forward at this point in time but there is spice woven into the ripe fruit giving it another dimension. At a stage now where it has lost some of its youthful freshness and time would be beneficial before approaching again. 90/100 - 2001 Domaine Huet Vouvray Demi-Sec Clos du Bourg – France, Loire Valley, Touraine, Vouvray
Just starting to deepen past light straw in colour. Pear, ash, oriental spice/sandalwood, chalk and minerals – really rocking on the nose. The sweetness seems to be of a similar level to the 07 Le Mont it was next to (I looked it up later, and this is 23g/l vs 20g/l for the Le Mont) but the acidity is a step up in level and it gives it superb spark and verve. Pure fruit and rather delicious, it is just starting to hit its straps and is delivering in a superb way. Now-10 years. 94/100
- 2009 Domaine Huet Vouvray Moelleux Le Mont – France, Loire Valley, Touraine, Vouvray
53g/l residual sugar. Mango, peach, pinepple, pear and a dash of floral character gives it some prettiness over the tropical fruits. The palate is concentrated with roundness but the acidity has good drive and the sweetness ends up feeling like it is close to being in balance. Has excellent potential once this youthful sweetness drops a notch and lets the other elements shine. Give it plenty of time! 91/100 - 1985 Domaine Huet Vouvray Moelleux Le Mont – France, Loire Valley, Touraine, Vouvray
40g/l residual sugar. Shows buttered toast, peach and apricot initially, with some pear and lanolin after time in the glass. The palate has excellent freshness still, the acidity draws the length out and it is really bright. The only signs of age on the palate are a tinge of caramel flavour around the edges and some hints of complexity starting to show. This could age for another 10 years without problem if the bottles are in good shape. 92/100 - 1985 Domaine Huet Vouvray Moelleux Clos du Bourg – France, Loire Valley, Touraine, Vouvray
Jean-Bernard Berthomé said that “Sometimes it is necessary to have great patience” and he applied this to the 1985 vintage wines which have taken a long, long time to come around. In the case of this wine I can only think that the wait was well worthwhile. 40g/l residual sugar.A superbly complex nose of truffle and florals, quince and mango, licorice and apple. Wonderfully pure and delicate fruit, this has a great level of depth and layers of flavour throughout. There is excellent acidity that sparkles across the length of the wine. Lingers on and on. Breathtaking wine that could probably take another 10-20 years of ageing if it continues at this rate. 96/100
- 2009 Domaine Huet Vouvray Moelleux 1ère Trie Clos du Bourg – France, Loire Valley, Touraine, Vouvray
92g/l residual sugar. Entrancing nose – ginger, orange peel, five spice, apple pie and peaches. Plenty of concentration and sweetness but it handles it magnificently with structure wrapping around and controlling its direction. The acidity is really impressive, with the finish feeling precise and clear. Definitely a notch upward in volume for all elements compared to the 2009 “regular” Le Mont Moelleux but doesn’t feel like the balance is compromised at all. Another wine that will benefit greatly from time and could be mind-blowing at its peak. 94/100 - 1995 Domaine Huet Vouvray Moelleux 1ère Trie Clos du Bourg – France, Loire Valley, Touraine, Vouvray
Musk, mandarin peel, lemon, ginger, dried floral notes and a graphite/smoke character – another stunning set of aromas. After spending significant time with the nose, I took a taste and was enthralled – there is great concentration but it is oh-so bright and precise with some a compelling line of acidity driving through into a very long finish. Another sip is inevitable, it took all my restraint not to just drink this as it would be gone in a flash. A wine with so much to offer already, but it won’t hurt to give it more time for development. 96/100