Hmmm…I’m not sure what to make of this? I am a big, big fan of their wine, but I found this bottle downright flabby. Where’s the acidity? I’m going to have to let one sit out for a while and see if I am missing something.
wow something is definitely wrong when sec is flabby, typically I buy demi sec from Huet because I need some sugar to balance the acidity, could be a scary proposition in 07.
I need to get my hands on some of these.
I am going to crack another one on Friday. i’ll let you know how it is.
Looking forward to your comments. I’m more of a Demisec fan (and up in terms of RS), but the backing acidity is key.
I’m surprised if the Haut-Lieu is that way because the Clos du Bourg and the Le Mont were showing beautifully when I had them a month or so ago – better than the 05s and 02 we had with them.
Although 2007 wasn’t ideal weather-wise in Vouvray the Huet wines - which are largely Sec in this vintage - have been just fine and in my experience haven’t demonstrated any lack of acidity or flabbiness. I’ve tasted the 2007 Haut Lieu Sec three times and have found no disappointment - notes below (most recent first):
Domaine Huet Vouvray Le Haut Lieu Sec 2007: This has about 7 g/l residual sugar, and this is my third taste of this cuvée. The nose is clean, with good minerality. The palate is nicely integrated, with nice smoky minerality showing today, over a good weighty midpalate. Lots of good substance here, with a fresh, sappy, mouth-watering finish. Lovely wine. An update from the 2009 Salon. 17+/20 (February 2009)
Domaine Huet Vouvray Le Haut Lieu Sec 2007: Another pop at this wine which I first met at a tasting in Bordeaux in April. A lovely floral character to the nose, more pronounced now, sweetly bright, with an intriguing note of liquorice. Delicate and fresh on the palate at first, but broadening out thereafter to give a little note of nut. Plenty of stylish, direct, delineated substance here, with a fresh finesse helped along by more than lively acidity. Possibly a higher score than this is warranted. 17-17.5+/20 (July 2008)
Domaine Huet Vouvray Le Haut Lieu Sec 2007: Fresh, aromatic, lightly mineral. A little floral, but this certainly has more substance than the 2006. Fresh, nicely structured, with good grip and good acid backbone. A nice minerality, well poised, with an appealing sappy finish. Really very good indeed. It has 7.3 g/l residual sugar, with 5.7 g/l titratable acidity and alcohol 13.5%. 16-17+/20 (April 2008)
I can’t think why the wine would seem flabby - the context perhaps, food or other wines? Either way I hope you find more pleasure in your next bottle.
Here is a recent note for me . .Le Mont though.
Had a lovely bottle of the 2007 Huet Vouvray Le Mont Sec which was raging on all cylinders. Le Mont Sec I think is always the most open of the young Huet secs. This had a piercing nose of salt, honeycomb, almonds and wet wool along with a steely element. Lovely purity and completeness on the palate with a surreal sense of balance. So easily drinkable but as this wine aerated over the coming days the minerality came more and more pronounced and either it shut down or will not last as long as I initially thought it would. The first night it was glorious but it went downhill after that. Huet, I find, usually improves in the bottle after a day or two in the cave.
I thought I had posted some reply to your demi-sec comment as well as my reply above but it must have been lost as I tried to post. I intended to write that if you like demi-secs then watch out for the 2008s - a good Vouvray vintage in which the demi-secs are particularly strong. Tasted earlier this year in Angers:
Domaine Huet Vouvray Le Haut Lieu Demi-Sec 2008: There is 27 g/l of residual sugar in this cuvée. It kicks off with a very attractive, floral nose with a pretty, aromatic character over gently golden fruits, although I suspect with time this will show more richness on the nose. The palate is just fabulous; explosive, lively and vivacious, before revealing a firm and stony backbone in the midpalate, a broad sweetness and fine acids. Great balance right through to the finish. Brilliant wine. An update from the 2009 Salon. 18-18.5+/20 (February 2009)
Domaine Huet Vouvray Le Mont Demi-Sec 2008: This also has 27 g/l residual sugar. It is a little more withdrawn than the Haut Lieu tasted alongside, perhaps showing a more mineral character, with tense, tightly wound fruit. The palate has acidity and minerality to the fore, and seems to be at the drier end of the demi-sec spectrum on the palate despite the residual sugar figure. It has a gentle, fleshy roundness but a great minerally character and a precise and defined nature. More serious, but no less brilliant. An update from the 2009 Salon. 18-18.5+/20 (February 2009)
say 7:30?
I hope so, too. I was really surprised by this. I hope you are right…maybe it was just me that night.
Ah, yes…you…me…a bottle of Huet…
watching Phineas and Ferb with my six year old
Thanks Chris. By the way, it’s probably worth mentioning that I enjoy the coverage of the Loire on your website (and particularly the Chenin Blanc coverage). Keep up the good work.
PS - Dan, if you free up some of that space devoted to Aussie and Spanish wines to make some room for Huet, Foreau, etc, let me know! 
I could bring my 3 year old daughter and we could watch Disney princesses instead!
Thank you Jim, that comment is very much appreciated.
Disney…[suicide.gif]
Paul,
My daughter did not see that. Otherwise, she would be devastated.
Yeah, she’s at that age, isn’t she?
My girls know of my disdain for the Evil Empire. They could care less as long as I take them there once in a while and let them watch the Disney Channel without commentary.
Just took our first trip in June with her, she was in heaven…hopefully a few years before we had back to “Mecca”
Went there last year. They LOVE it.
SIGH
Stayed at the “Yacht Club” (which had a wine bar). Some nicer restaurants actually have some decent wine. I did treat myself the a Schrader cab, which was excellent.
Stayed at a marriott time share 2 miles away. BBQ’d a lot, shipped down my own wine.
Met Bruce Stucker for a drink at the steakhouse attached and we had a 2002 Bond Matriarch for happy hour. Great btl!