Domaine Huet : Le Haut-Lieu Demi-Sec 2022

The pure, mineral expression of a Vouvray white wine

The estate
Founded in 1928 by Victor Huet, Domaine Huet has established itself as a true benchmark for wine in France, in the Loire Valley. A pioneer of biodynamics, certified since 1993, the estate cultivates excellence through a deep respect for terroir and a philosophy that favours quality over quantity. Today, the domaine is passionately run by Sarah and Hugo Hwang, who carry on this historic legacy. Alongside winemaker Benjamin Joliveau, they tend around 35 hectares of vines to craft cuvées that reflect the purity of their surroundings.

The vineyard
The vineyard behind this cuvée stretches across the plateau of the Première Côte de Vouvray. Acquired when the estate was founded, this historic nine-hectare terroir stands out for its deep soils of brown clay, locally known as "aubuis", mixed with limestone. The subsoil, meanwhile, consists of porous yellow tuffeau, a rock capable of retaining spring water to hydrate the vines during the drier summer months. The grapes are harvested by hand in successive passes to select berries at optimal ripeness.

The vintage
2022 began with a particularly mild winter, leading to an early budbreak in late March, which fortunately escaped spring frosts. The summer proved extremely hot and dry, with scorching temperatures reaching 40°C. This lack of rainfall had the advantage of eliminating any fungal pressure. As a result, harvesting began very early, on 8 September, requiring numerous passes through the vines to accommodate highly uneven berry ripening.

Winemaking and aging
For the "Le Haut-Lieu" Demi-Sec 2022, the hand-harvested grapes undergo a rigorous selection process. Each bunch is carefully inspected on a sorting table set up directly in the vineyard. The estate's philosophy is rooted in minimal intervention, allowing nature and the ripeness profile of the berries to shape the wine's final style.

Grape variety
100% Chenin Blanc

Characteristics and tasting notes for the "Le Haut-Lieu" Demi-Sec 2022 Domaine Huet

Tasting notes

Color
The glass reveals a lovely straw-yellow hue evolving into subtle golden highlights.

Nose
The aromatic bouquet expresses great complexity, blending notes of quince, yellow apple, pear and plum. Delicate floral touches of white lily and orange blossom intertwine with hints of pollen, light caramel and a mineral thread evoking limestone soils.

Palate
The palate opens with a silky, creamy texture, carried by bright acidity and a lovely mineral tension. The subtle sweetness blends perfectly with flavours of orchard fruit, tangy apricot, honey and almond. The finish, remarkably long, lingers on notes of citrus and persistent minerality.

Food and wine pairing
This white wine pairs beautifully with seafood such as grilled lobster with beurre blanc, scallops or oysters. It also complements white meat and poultry perfectly, such as roast chicken with apples or duck with yellow curry. Finally, it will elevate aged cheeses or fresh goat's cheese with honey.

Service and storage
Approachable even in its youth, this "Le Haut-Lieu" Demi-Sec 2022 boasts exceptional aging potential and can be enjoyed until around 2085.

Other characteristics
This wine offers a well-balanced sweetness with a residual sugar content of 18 g/L.