Domaine Huet Vouvray Petillant 2017 750ml

The Loire Valley’s most famous estate was founded in 1928 by Victor Huët, and rose to prominence under his son, Gaston. It was purchased by the Hwang family in 2003. 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 (selected berries), from each of the “big 3” vineyards.

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.