Noel Pinguet, Retired in 2012 as Winemaker after 30+ Years |
Country of Origin: France
Location: Vouvray
People: Istvan Szepsy & Anthony Hwang, Owners | Jean-Bernard Bertholme & Benjamin Joliveau, Winemakers
Since its founding in 1928, Vouvray’s Domaine
Huët has been the standard-bearer for great, ageworthy Chenin Blanc. And
to this day, year after year, the estate produces some of the world’s
most compelling white wines—and in a remarkable range that spans
sparkling, dry, semi-dry, and breathtaking dessert styles.
Chenin Blanc has been identified with Vouvray since at least the 9th
century, and many of its great vineyards were known by the 14th century.
By those standards, the 80-year-old Huët estate is relatively young.
Yet it was this youngster that established, once and for all, that
Vouvray was capable of world-class quality.
The domaine's founder, Victor Huët, was a Parisian bistro owner.
However, with lungs and nerves shattered by his experiences in WWI,
Victor re-settled to the town of Vouvray in France's beautiful Loire
Valley. He soon purchased the first of his great vineyards, Le
Haut-Lieu, in 1928, and Domaine Huët was born.
Victor's son Gaston (born 1910) worked with his father from the
beginning, and assumed full charge by 1937. With an obsessive devotion
to quality, and an engaging showman's personality, Gaston built the Huët
legacy over the next 55 years, despite spending five years in a German
POW camp during WWII.
The Grand Crus: For all his salesmanship, Gaston understood clearly that quality must
come first-and that quality started with great vineyards. His Haut-Lieu
parcel, which lies on Vouvray's "Première Côte" (or "first slope"), is
home to virtually all of the appellation's acknowledged grand cru
vineyards.
As the estate prospered in the post-WWII era, Gaston secured two
additional prime vineyards on the Première Côte that would ensure the
domaine's stature: Le Mont (purchased in 1957) and Clos du Bourg (farmed
since 1953, purchased in 1963). Collectively, these three vineyards,
and the wines made from them, account for Huët being the greatest of all
Vouvray producers.
Le Mont is
an 8-hectare estate which borders the slopes of the Loire Valley, in
the first slopes area. The soil is pebbly and consists mainly of
green-colored clay and silica. The wines produced are elegant and
feminine. Le Haut-Lieu covers 9 hectares, with very deep clayey
limestone soil, predominantly brown clay. This rather heavy soil
generally produces supple wines. Le Clos du Bourg, a 6-hectare "Clos"
surrounded by stone walls, is located on the first slopes above the
church in Vouvray.
The rather thin soil, only
about one meter in depth, lies in direct contact with the non-active
limestone. Le Clos du Bourg produces a powerful and well-structured
wine.
The Vines: 15 %
of vines are between 1 and 10 years old, 35 % of vines are between 10
and 30 years old and 50 % of vines are between 30 and 50 years old.
A Perfect Pair: In 1971, Gaston was joined by his talented son-in-law, Noël Pinguet.
Together, they crafted legendary wines from their three parcels-with the
vineyards and nature dictating which grapes would become Sec, Demi-
Sec, or Moelleux. The estate always held back significant stocks of
older vintages, and these wines' near immortality has helped to further
the Huët legend.
In 2002, with Gaston ailing, a financial partner was needed to ensure
the continuation of the estate's rich legacy. Anthony Hwang, a
Filipino-born, New York businesmsman, was brought into the partnership.
Gaston passed away that year, but, with the security and enthusiasm
brought by Tony, Noël Pinguet has been able to continue Gaston's
important work.
In February 2012, with Huet's international reputation at arguably
its highest point ever, Noël fulfilled his longstanding plan to turn the
winemaking and vineyard responsibilities over to his hand-picked
successor, Cellarmaster Jean-Bernard Berthom.
Media Links
The Wine Doctor: Domaine Huet
Transcending Category: Huet and Kiralyudvar
Social Media
Twitter: @domainehuet
Domaine Huet Facebook
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| Current Items from Domaine Huet |
| Cat # |
|
Pack-Size |
Net |
Reviews |
| 6834 |
Domaine Huet 2009 Vouvray Petillant Brut AOC |
12-750 |
$264 |
|
| 3917 |
Domaine Huet 2007 Vouvray Demi-Sec, Le Mont, AOC |
12-750 |
$330 |
|
| 7417 |
Domaine Huet 2009 Vouvray Moelleux 'Le Haut-Lieu' Vouvray AOC |
12-750 |
$360 |
|
| 7186 |
Domaine Huet 2012 Vouvray Sec, Clos du Bourg, AOC |
12-750 |
$280 |
|
| 5939 |
Domaine Huet 2011 Vouvray Sec, Le Mont, AOC |
12-750 |
$280 |
|
| 7185 |
Domaine Huet 2012 Vouvray Sec, Le Mont, AOC |
12-750 |
$280 |
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