|
B-21 Top Recommendation Read More
"Domaine Huet is, perhaps, Vouvray's most famous name ... No matter the site or the sweetness level, there is an ethereal and elegant quality to these wines that defies scientific analysis." - Vinous
The above quote from Rebecca Gibb of Vinous sums up almost everything you need to know about the magnificent wines of Domaine Huet. Sure, we could also mention that they have been a biodynamic pioneer since 1993, or that their wines age as well as almost any wines in the world, red or white. But at the end of the day, it's the singular character and class of the juice in the bottle that sets them apart from their contemporaries.
This latest quartet of releases from 2023 shows why the domaine is a force to be reckoned with, not only in Vouvray, but anywhere in the Loire. With more glowing acclaim to add to their already full resumé, Huet is at the pinnacle once again. No matter where you look in the range, these are easily some of the smartest buys in collectible white wine, as evidenced by the JS96 Le Mont Sec, "one of the great dry white wines of the Loire." You could also go in for the "pure, refined, seamless style" of the Le Haut-Lieu Sec or the "deep, complex, and beautifully focused" Clos du Bourg Sec, and have yourself a trio of thrilling cellar treasures that will cruise for decades. Finally, the domaine's mastery of the sweeter styles is on full display in the Le Mont Demi-Sec, which View From the Cellar's John Gilman declares is "destined to ultimately be ranked as one of the finest wines to be found anywhere along the Loire River in this vintage!"
Our parcel comes in at razor-sharp pricing that puts the already spectacular cellar appeal of these gems in even brighter light, so avid Loire enthusiasts or any collector of world-class, reference-point wines can take their collections up a notch or two. |
|
Firmly structured and elegant, this is a demi-sec but supremely food-friendly and balanced, with subtle sweetness deftly offset by savory power and mineral notes. Plush and generous, with flavors of honeycomb, ripe apple and heather that are all tightly hemmed in with plum skin acidity and apple seed tannins. Green almond bitterness and hints of fleur de sel mark the complex finish. Drink now through 2037. 490 cases made.
94 points, Kristen Bieler, Wine Spectator (Nov 2024)
Domaine Huët’s 2023 Clos du Bourg Sec bottling is also excellent. The wine is deep, complex and beautifully focused on the nose, wafting from the glass in a mix of quince, apple, a touch of pink grapefruit, complex, chalky soil tones, lanolin, beeswax and a topnote of gently musky white flowers. On the palate the wine is deep, full-bodied and shows a bit more mid-palate weight than the Le Haut Lieu and Le Mont Sec bottlings in 2023, with sound acids, excellent balance and grip and fine lift on the long and complex finish. It will not be criminal to open a bottle or two of the Clos du Bourg Sec 2023 in its early days, but if one buys a case, make sure to tuck at least nine of the bottles away for the long haul. 2024-2085.
94 points, John Gilman, View From The Cellar
The aromas of floral honey, cashew nuts and butter are married to a brioche character reminiscent of good Champagne, but this is completely still. On the medium-bodied palate, the interplay of honeyed creaminess and elegant acidity is enchanting, the wine gliding over your palate. Long, supple finish. From biodynamically grown grapes. Drink or hold.
93 points, Stuart Pigott, James Suckling (Oct 2024)