Vouvray Moelleux 1ere Trie Le Mont
- White
- Chenin Blanc
- Sweet
Since its founding in 1928 by Victor Huët, Vouvray’s Domaine Huet has been the standard-bearer for great, age-worthy Chenin Blanc. The estate was an early pioneer of biodynamic viticulture, and credits it with helping them adapt to the dramatic weather conditions of recent vintages. The estate’s three vineyards- Le Haut-Lieu, Le Mont, and Clos du Bourg- sit atop Vouvray’s esteemed Première Côte. By any reckoning, these rank among the greatest vineyard sites in the Loire Valley. The estate was one of the first in France to adopt biodynamic viticulture. Depending on the vintage, the estate can make Sec, Demi-Sec, Moelleux, and/or Moelleux 1ère Trie (first selection), from each of the “Big 3” vineyards. This Moelleux 1ere Trie is only produced in years when a selection of Le Mont grapes reach the perfect balance for Huet's immortal dessert wines.
Winemaking Information
Harvest is by hand, and occurs over 2-3 successive passes (“tries”) through the vineyards. Intact bunches are pressed into a 50/50 mix of tanks and old demi-muids, where alcoholic fermentation proceeds naturally with indigenous yeasts. When their alcoholic fermentations conclude, the wines are racked into old barrels where they spend the winter before bottling in April. Malolactic fermentation is neither encouraged nor discouraged.
Vineyard Information
Purchased in 1957, Le Mont’s 9 ha of green- tinged clay soils are speckled with stone and mica. Often the most reticent wines at this estate, they develop profound character with age.