I have a hard time seeing a Huet as “weak and watery”, or for that matter most of the Chenin Blanc I have had…
Seems like some of you can’t read. My TN was for Chenin in general. But one producer doesn’t make a region.
Sassicaia does!
OK you are correct. But can we talk about Bordeaux in another thread?
Good to see so many open minds on this BB.
Thanks… your comments makes so much more sense now.
Open to what…? Most of us are open to the idea that enjoying wine is subjective and personal.
Your further contributions, however, haven’t been very meaningful, and don’t encourage me to take your commentary seriously. For example, characterizing the wines as “watery” across the board (especially without any examples) gives me the impression that you have relatively little experience with Chenin Blanc, particularly with styles that have greater levels of residual sugar. It also gives me the impression that you lack the open mind…
+1. Maybe this whole thread is just one big chain pull, if not it’s one of the dumber ones in a while. This is the equivalent of saying “Beethoven must die”.
While I love Huet’s wines - I find them grossly overpriced - at least in the United States - and I can think of quite a few producers making similar wines selling for a third the price -
I love Chenin Blanc - from Clarksburg to the Loire - and it’s a chameleon ala Riesling -
I’m certainly open to the idea that there are wines that some people want to like more than they actually like. I said as much earlier in the thread. Whether that’s Chenin, or Alsatian Pinot Noir, or Jura Poulsard or high-dollar Napa Cab is, of course, subjective.
Unless you are discussing their really sweet wines, name the quite a few producers making similar wines for a third the price. I am figuring on $30-35 for Huet, so I am expecting wines selling for $11 or so.
Tasted this at a Zachy’s tasting and wondered what all the fuss was about.
I’m not sure myself. At the price asked, I think it currently one of the worst values out there - a good wine priced like a great one. Some older vintages have been brilliant with age, but I have passed on new releases of it for four years running - the 03 still sits, collecting dust…
How the hell do you have a TN for a region? Gary, if you don’t like the wines fine. But it’s massively arrogant to suggest that because you don’t like the wines from a region they’re crap. Are you really that full of yourself? Oh hold it… we can’t read because we disagree with you. Right… nice troll York. here… have some of this:
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In the Midwest - Huet’s wines start at $45 a bottle - with an average price of over $50 a bottle - You will find them closed out across the country for much less sometimes because THEY JUST DON’T SELL at their suggested retail prices, so importers dump older vintages alot - Grey market helps bring down the prices on the coasts as well -
And producers I like just as much - Fourreau, Champelou, Fontainiere, and the old vintages from Prince Poniatowski - that’s just Vouvray - some great growers in Montlouis as well -
And I’ve seen recent vintages of the Vouvrays from Champelou and Fontainiere for well under $20 a bottle -
As they should! Don’t touch these for at least five, if not ten or more, years.
Yes, it’s overpriced, but it’s just so yummy.
As for chenin, it is by far my favorite white grape, and part of that is the quality that can be gotten for $12-20 a bottle. Add in that it’s so versatile, and it’s one of the few grapes that I will actually get a craving for.
I have had less expensive Vouvrays that I like from Campelou, Fouquet, Pinon, etc., that can be good, but I have not had one that is nearly as good as Huet. Foreau and Baumard (esp. Tre Speciale) can sometimes be as good as Huet, but not always and they are almost as expensive. I have had a couple of impressive wines from Chidaine, but have not yet had any with age. In DC, I can do much better on Huet than $45-50, even new. And I don’t think my experience with price is that unusual - http://www.wine-searcher.com/find/huet/1/usa" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
I don’t buy that much Chenin Blanc - I buy more riesling than anything else in white wines, by far. But the wines are quite good, at least from the handful of really good producers. The only real issue I see here is premox.
1537 views. Is that the focus?
Chenin is a lovely expression of what grapes can add to a meal and experience. 'nuff said.
Thomas K.,
Huet Haut-Lieu Sec is available in MO for sub-$35.
Duh.
Why does everyone always fall for the Troll King? Isn’t his real name Gothmog or something like that from Tolkien?
Please let me know where the Huet wines are being dumped. Really, seriously, I’d like to know, because I haven’t seen it.
As for the other wines: so what if Champalou is under $20? It’s nowhere near the equivalent of a $60 Huet, unless you are seriously overpaying for your Huet. Wine Searcher shows all kinds of Huet Sec at $30-33. What’s the equivalent wine at $10-11? Maybe Huets are overpriced in your market, and Chadderdon clearly hasn’t done Huet any favors, but on a national scale, I don’t see it. In fact, I picked up a case of 97 Moulleux from HDH for under $30 a pop. Stunning value; I haven’t seen it’s like in years. Really, if I thought there was anything under $15 that could compete with Huet, I would own cases and cases…well, it turns out that there is such a wine (Briords), and I do own cases and cases. But there’s only one such wine, alas.
I like Foreau and Champalou but they’re certainly not equal to Huet on a consistent basis. Every time someone has raved about old Poniatowski, I’ve found the same wines “weak and watery.” Even the 89s and 90s. That’s a pretty difficult feat in Vouvray.
And that’s not even touching on the Huet Petillants. If you’ve ever had the '02, it’s pretty clear that it competes with Champagne of a much higher price.