+- WineBoard (https://www.wines.com/wineboard)
+-- Forum: TASTING NOTES & WINE SPECIFIC FORUMS (https://www.wines.com/wineboard/forum-200.html)
+--- Forum: Loire Wines/Varieties/Chenin Blanc (https://www.wines.com/wineboard/forum-26.html)
+--- Thread: 2002 Huet Petillant (/thread-13807.html)
- VouvrayHead - 02-25-2009
$29
Though my name is Vouvrayhead, I'm probably most in love with champagne. However, it was Vouvray that first made me think that wine was something more than a nice drink. I've always thought that the racy acidity and honeyed nuttiness of vouvray should translate well into sparkling wine, but, though I've had some that I enjoyed, I never tasted a sparkling Vouvray that really made me sigh in the way champagne can. Until yesterday.
This is by far the best sparkling wine I've ever had made outsite of champagne. It reminds me of a glimmering vintage bottling from a small chardonnay-based house like Vilmart.
I drank this over two nights, and for the most part it got better as each hour passed.
The bubbles are small and a little less numerous than in champagne. Bright yellow/gold in color, with an immediately inviting nose of grilled nuts and a touch of toast. The nose grew more doughy and rich with a touch of vanilla and cinnamon as the evening wore on.
In the mouth it has bright acidity with this focused wine with apple and citrus (tangerine?) backed up by sweet doughy bread. The finish is long with the acidity carrying the high-notes along for a ride. Really brilliant stuff and with champagne costing what it does, a total steal.
This 02 petillant is the first sparkling Vouvray that has fulfilled the potential I always thought this type of wine could have. They make this with their super young vines (<10 years old). I dream of the day they put their best stuff into a great vintage (like 02) of this. Nonetheless, I think this bottling is brilliant. Though I don't have the experience to be a good predictor of such things, I suspect based on the acidity and structure that it should age very nicely for at the very least another decade+
I got it from Patrick at
http://www.cheapwinestore.com
based out of Seattle and was very happy with his service.
wines.come, I'll be happy to buy from you if you get some Huet in a good vintage right around tax-refund time! [img]http://www.wines.com/ubb/smile.gif[/img]
[This message has been edited by VouvrayHead (edited 02-25-2009).]
- wondersofwine - 02-26-2009
Very, very nice note Vouvray.