Winemaker Notes
Professional Ratings
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
Notes of white truffle, spices, hydrocarbon, Mirabelle plum and spring blossoms preface the 2005 Vouvray Le Haut-Lieu Moelleux—a dense, structured and concentrated wine that nonetheless exudes remarkable elegance and finesse. A fleshy core of fruit is lifted by perfectly judged acidity, leading to a long, ethereal and seemingly endless finish. Racy and precise, this is one of the standout wines in Huet’s 2022 lineup and a personal favorite. Rating: 95+
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Vinous
The 2005 Vouvray Moelleux Le Haut-Lieu is at a fabulous stage in its evolution. It's sweet but has strength and energy. Baked nectarine, barley and bitter orange tones show a slight botrytis character, as well as toasty notes of bottle age.
Unquestionably one of the most diverse grape varieties, Chenin Blanc can do it all. It shines in every style from bone dry to unctuously sweet, oaked or unoaked, still or sparkling and even as the base for fortified wines and spirits. Perhaps Chenin Blanc’s greatest asset is its ever-present acidity, maintained even under warm growing conditions. Somm Secret—Landing in South Africa in the mid 1800s, today the country has double the acreage of Chenin Blanc planted compared to France. There is also a new wave of dedicated producers committed to restoring old Chenin vines.
Stretching east along the steep banks of the Loire River, Touraine is a major part of the Middle Loire. Soil variations of clay, sand, tuffeau and gravel throughout its subregions support both white and red varieties. Chinon and Bourgueil remain the source of Loire’s finest Cabernet Franc; various styles of the most outstanding Chenin blanc come from Vouvray and Montlouis.