In This Newsletter:
Vouvray Sale
Collector’s Corner: Pape Clement
White Wines for the Ages
Stock Up & Save On:
Vouvray, Featuring Domaine Huet
Vouvray Sale
Collector’s Corner: Pape Clement
White Wines for the Ages
Stock Up & Save On:
Vouvray, Featuring Domaine Huet
Vouvray: one of the world’s most complex, age-worthy, terroir-driven, aromatically intense, and praised white wines. You’d be hard-pressed to find a more wildly expressive and flexible grape than the Chenin Blanc that composes practically all white wines from Vouvray. Esteemed for its profundity at all sweetness levels, Vouvray ranges from bone-dry (Sec), lightly- to medium-sweet (Demi-Sec), and dessert style (Moelleux).
Granted AOC status in 1936, this commune in the Loire Valley is home to a landmark estate that has endured since those early days. Domaine Huet produces glorious, age-worthy wines not to be overlooked.
Domaine Huet is the most sought-after Vouvray producer, at least according to Wine-Searcher data, but that has never surprised us. This is one of France’s pioneers in biodynamic viticulture, modernizing only in the most conscientious way. Today, horses still plough between the rows of their three vineyards, considered some of the greatest in all of the Loire. Le Haut-Lieu is their most approachable, offering softer and younger-drinking wines. Le Mont is dense, chock-full of minerals (or should we say chalk-full?), and the most age-worthy, per insiders. Clos du Bourg lies somewhere in between the others in terms of youthful approachability and minerality.
In the winery, the recipe remains relatively simple. Fermentation takes place half in stainless steel, half in old oak, without malolactic fermentation. After only six months, the wines are bottled and then laid to age in a cellar dug from tuffeau rock, no air conditioning required. From here the Huet work is done: the rest is up to nature, and what eventually tastes like divine intervention.
Huet offers opulent and flamboyant wines that are packed with fruit—they’re easy to love and the complexity is obvious. If you’re interested in exploring our additional Vouvray offerings, now’s the chance. Every bottle of Vouvray in our shop is on sale now. No matter what you pick, you’re in for a treat—these are some very special wines.
Granted AOC status in 1936, this commune in the Loire Valley is home to a landmark estate that has endured since those early days. Domaine Huet produces glorious, age-worthy wines not to be overlooked.
Domaine Huet is the most sought-after Vouvray producer, at least according to Wine-Searcher data, but that has never surprised us. This is one of France’s pioneers in biodynamic viticulture, modernizing only in the most conscientious way. Today, horses still plough between the rows of their three vineyards, considered some of the greatest in all of the Loire. Le Haut-Lieu is their most approachable, offering softer and younger-drinking wines. Le Mont is dense, chock-full of minerals (or should we say chalk-full?), and the most age-worthy, per insiders. Clos du Bourg lies somewhere in between the others in terms of youthful approachability and minerality.
In the winery, the recipe remains relatively simple. Fermentation takes place half in stainless steel, half in old oak, without malolactic fermentation. After only six months, the wines are bottled and then laid to age in a cellar dug from tuffeau rock, no air conditioning required. From here the Huet work is done: the rest is up to nature, and what eventually tastes like divine intervention.
Huet offers opulent and flamboyant wines that are packed with fruit—they’re easy to love and the complexity is obvious. If you’re interested in exploring our additional Vouvray offerings, now’s the chance. Every bottle of Vouvray in our shop is on sale now. No matter what you pick, you’re in for a treat—these are some very special wines.
5% off any 4-7 in-stock bottles of Vouvray
10% off any 8+ or more in-stock bottles of Vouvray
Discount will not display online or in your cart,
We will adjust your invoice before processing your charge.
Sale ends Monday, July 14th at 9 am Pacific.
10% off any 8+ or more in-stock bottles of Vouvray
Discount will not display online or in your cart,
We will adjust your invoice before processing your charge.
Sale ends Monday, July 14th at 9 am Pacific.
We offer nineteen in-stock Vouvray options on sale now, including:
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast!
Philippe Foreau Domaine du Clos Naudin Vouvray Moelleux 2015 750ml Displayed Price: $66, that’s $62.70 at 5% off and $59.40 at 10% off, 12 bottles in stock now
Neal Rosenthal Tasting Note “The 2015 Moelleux is really a step up in concentration and complexity from the Sec and Demi-Sec. It is at this level where the ultimate potential of Vouvray begins to reveal itself. The dense aromas lean bitter, with notes of pear, pit fruits, and fresh honey. On the palate, the fruit is warm and leans toward plum and quince, with an undercurrent of sea foam and Indian spices. Wearing 70 grams of sugar, this wine’s intense minerality keeps it fresh and structured, which adds to its incredible persistence and surprisingly dry finish.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Domaine Perrault-Jadaud ‘Bacchanales’ Vouvray (Moelleux/‘Liquoreux’) 2018 500ml Displayed Price: $33, that’s $31.35 at 5% off and $29.70 at 10% off, 10 500ml-bottles in stock now
Wine Terroirs Note “…120 grams of residual sugar. Elevage in barrels. 11 % alcohol. Bottled in 50 centiliter bottles. Golden color, the maturity, and oxidation as well, ans as Anne-Cécile reminds me, the negligible doses of sulfites (high dosages of sulfites gives you colorless whites, that’s why commercial sweet wines are mostly colorless, it’s because of excessive SO2). Excellent wine which remains fresh in the mouth even with this sugar, there an acidulous feel which is very enjoyable. Anne-Cécile says that the fermentation stops by itself at one point, they don’t have to do anything. They often sell this wine in the wine fairs they attend in november or december, when people presumably look for wines to pair with foie gras and other Christmas/New Year delicacies. For me it’s a good apéritif wine as well, by itself.”
Domaine Huet Vouvray Le Haut-Lieu Sec 2023 750ml Displayed Price: $39, that’s $37.05 at 5% off and $35.10 at 10% off, 11 bottles in stock now
Rebecca Gibb MW-Vinous 93 points “The 2023 Vouvray Sec Le Haut-Lieu is a pure, refined, seamless style with pear, pineapple and nectarine flavors. It boasts excellent clarity and refinement, with lovely freshness hailing from calibrated acidity that bursts through this blossoming wine. Considering this was only bottled three weeks before tasting, I’m very encouraged by the results. (Drink between 2024-2033).”
Domaine Huet Vouvray Le Mont Sec 2023 750ml Displayed Price: $45, that’s $42.75 at 5% off and $40.50 at 10% off, 10 bottles in stock now
Rebecca Gibb MW-Vinous 95 points “The 2023 Vouvray Sec Le Mont is precise, upright and flinty. It’s less immediately charming than the styles we’ve seen in recent warmer vintages, but it was only tasted three weeks after bottling—this is one to revisit. There’s just the right amount of juicy, peachy flesh within this light-bodied yet concentrated wine. It has the potential to charm but does so without showing off. Flinty and tightly sewn together, it has curves in the right places, but you’re just going to have to wait for it to take shape. (Drink between 2026-2038).”
Domaine Huet Vouvray Clos du Bourg Demi-Sec 2023 750ml Displayed Price: $49, that’s $46.55 at 5% off and $44.10 at 10% off, 11 bottles in stock now
Wine Spectator 94 points “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. –KB”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Domaine Huet Vouvray Le Mont Demi-Sec 2015 750ml Displayed Price: $44.50, that’s $42.28 at 5% off and $40.05 at 10% off, 9 bottles in stock now
Stephan Reinhardt-Wine Advocate 96 points “The 2015 Vouvray Le Mont Demi-Sec is deep, rich and flinty on the nose, with caramel and vegetable flavors indicating a great complexity. Full-bodied, dense and powerful, this is highly complex and persistent, yet refreshing and transparent Chenin with a juicy fruit and lots of grip, energy and tension. Rather demure at the moment, this enormously structured wine has a great aging potential and I recommend to store it for 6-10 years, at least.”
This is the only listing in the USA today by-the-bottle!
Domaine Huet Vouvray Le Haut-Lieu Moelleux 2016 750ml Displayed Price: $49, that’s $46.55 at 5% off and $44.10 at 10% off, 36+ bottles in stock now
Wine Spectator 95 points “Gorgeous crystallized ginger, dried quince, glazed pear and warm persimmon notes are seamlessly interwoven here, gliding through a lengthy finish that picks up a lilting green tea accent. Frankly off-dry but wonderfully pure. Drink now through 2035.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Domaine Huet Vouvray Clos du Bourg Moelleux 2016 750ml Displayed Price: $69, that’s $65.55 at 5% off and $62.10 at 10% off, 35 bottles in stock now
Wine Spectator 97 points “A stunner, with beautiful pear, green fig, yellow apple and quince notes that are creamy and flirtatiously sweet, yet seamless and refined in feel. The extremely long finish lets honeysuckle and verbena notes dance throughout, with a light echo of white ginger at the very end. Best from 2020 through 2040.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Domaine Huet Vouvray Le Mont Moelleux 2016 750ml Displayed Price: $59, that’s $56.05 at 5% off and $53.10 at 10% off, 36+ bottles in stock now
Wine Spectator 96 points “Bright, even exuberant in feel, with a parade of Jonagold apple, green melon, Bosc pear and quince flavors streaming through, gilded with heather, honeysuckle and verbena notes on the long, lithe finish. Remarkably elegant despite the off-dry style. Drink now through 2035.”
Domaine Huet Vouvray Le Mont Moelleux 2020 750ml Displayed Price: $46, that’s $43.70 at 5% off and $41.40 at 10% off, 19 bottles in stock now
Rebecca Gibb MW-Vinous 96 points “There are many shouty wines in the world, but the 2020 Le Mont Moelleux is understated, which is highly attractive. There’s finesse and elegance to this sweeter style (49g/L). Delicate exotic characters such as dried papaya and pineapple sit alongside floral notes. While there’s excellent concentration, this remains delicate. The finish is appetizing thanks to fine acidity and phenolic structure, which hold the mouth reassuringly on the finish. An excellent wine that offers real drinkability in youth thanks to its appealing primary fruit, but there’s no hurry at all to drink. A smidgen more length would take it into even higher realms (although, let’s be fair, it’s not far off as good as it gets).”
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast!
Domaine Huet Vouvray Clos du Bourg Premiere Trie Moelleux 2016 750ml Displayed Price: $69, that’s $65.55 at 5% off and $62.10 at 10% off, 36+ bottles in stock now
Wine Spectator 96 points “This is ripe and broad, taking a slightly more power-driven approach, with a mix of tropical mango and papaya fruit, backed by orchard fruit accents of yellow apple and peach. The long, heather honey–accented finish has light piecrust and crystalized ginger hints. Best from 2020 through 2035.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Domaine Huet Vouvray Le Mont Premiere Trie Moelleux 2016 750ml Displayed Price: $69, that’s $65.55 at 5% off and $62.10 at 10% off, 36+ bottles in stock now
Stephan Reinhardt-Wine Advocate 97 points “The 2016 Vouvray Le Mont Moelleux Première Trie opens with a very clear, deep and flinty/herbal bouquet of ripe concentrated stone fruits intermixed with chalky/smoky aromas, very complex and truly exciting! Light, fresh and tensioned on the palate, that is very pure and salty but also tight and concentrated. The 2016 Le Mont reveals crystalline acidity, delicate but serious tannin grip and a long, complex, stimulating finish. This is Chenin Blanc full of energy and aging potential, provided with concentration, lingering salinity and vibrancy. This is a fascinating Le Mont, surely the top wine of Huet’s excellent 2016 series. Bottled with 92 grams of residual sugar, it tastes less sweet than the corresponding Clos du Bourg. Tasted February 2018.”
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast!
Domaine Huet Vouvray Le Mont Premiere Trie Moelleux 2020 750ml Displayed Price: $66, that’s $62.70 at 5% off and $59.40 at 10% off, 14 bottles in stock now
Stephan Reinhardt-Wine Advocate 97-98 points “The intensely yellow colored 2020 Vouvray Le Mont Moelleux Première Trie is highly concentrated and complex on the nose that exhibits candied lemon zest and chutney aromas along with calcareous and walnut notes. Sweet (really sweet!) yet refined and elegant on the palate, this is a full-bodied, rich and generous yet piquant and firmly structured, greatly tensioned and salty 1ère Trie with pineapple flavors on the finely tannic and energetic, very sustainable finish. The 2020 has great aging potential, and I would never serve it too young. When will it really start to show its best? I don’t know, but you can’t go wrong to check the wine again after 10 years. Tasted as a final sample shortly before bottling in May 2021.”
Château Pape Clément’s Blanc is a classic blend of aromatic white Bordeaux varieties. To call the estate historic is almost an injustice: founded in the 13th century, Château Pape Clément is easily one of Graves’, and Bordeaux’s, oldest. This deeply colored gem almost looks like a Sauternes in the glass, but it is bone-dry with a bright spine of acidity to lift the full-bodied heft. You will find voluptuous, honeyed aromas of yellow fruits and pale flowers alongside intriguing whispers of vanilla and oak. Pour this with your favorite poultry dishes, seafood paella, or richly-spiced vegetarian stews.
In Stock Now:
Chateau Pape Clement Blanc, Pessac-Leognan 2012 750ml $189 special, 9 bottles in stock now
Robert Parker – Wine Advocate 96 points “I am not sure what the exact blend is for the 2012 Pape Clément, but it has a light gold color and is a gorgeously full-bodied, multi-dimensional wine with great texture in its notes of rose petal, honeysuckle, crystallized/caramelized tropical fruits, mandarin orange and honeyed lemon. Aged 15 months in mostly new French oak, this is another brilliant achievement for proprietor Bernard Magrez from this tiny white wine vineyard, although I would rate it slightly below his perfect 2009. Anticipated maturity: now-2030.”
45% Sauvignon Blanc, 44% Semillon, 6% Muscadelle & 5% Sauvignon Gris
In Stock Now:
Chateau Pape Clement Blanc, Pessac-Leognan 2012 750ml $189 special, 9 bottles in stock now
Robert Parker – Wine Advocate 96 points “I am not sure what the exact blend is for the 2012 Pape Clément, but it has a light gold color and is a gorgeously full-bodied, multi-dimensional wine with great texture in its notes of rose petal, honeysuckle, crystallized/caramelized tropical fruits, mandarin orange and honeyed lemon. Aged 15 months in mostly new French oak, this is another brilliant achievement for proprietor Bernard Magrez from this tiny white wine vineyard, although I would rate it slightly below his perfect 2009. Anticipated maturity: now-2030.”
45% Sauvignon Blanc, 44% Semillon, 6% Muscadelle & 5% Sauvignon Gris
Browse our red, white, and dessert selections from Bordeaux!
Don’t miss our additional sale going on now:
Paolo Scavino
5% off any 4-7 in-stock bottles of Paolo Scavino
10% off any 8+ or more in-stock bottles of Paolo Scavino
Discount will not display online or in your cart,
We will adjust your invoice before processing your charge.
Paolo Scavino sale ends Saturday, July 12th at 9 am Pacific.