History
Undoubtedly the leading estate in Vouvray, it would be no exaggeration to describe Domaine Huet as the leading exponent of Chenin Blanc in the world. For here, in the cool chalk cellars under the tufa cliffs of the middle Loire, Gaston Huet and son-in-law Noël Pinguet fashion an extraordinary range of wines, each with its own style and personality, but all made 100% from Chenin - the "ugly duckling" of classic white grape varieties. From crisp and refreshing Sparkling wines, through dry but rich whites to luscious dessert nectars, every bottle that comes out of these cellars is a masterpiece of elegance, complexity and balance. Furthermore, the still wines have an ageing capacity greater than most of the world's top reds, let alone whites. For these reasons, Noël Pinguet was recently honored as "White Wine Maker of the Year" at the International Wine Challenge.
The domaine was created in 1928, but the single vineyards of Le Haut Lieu, Clos du Bourg and Le Mont have a history dating back much longer, their fame linked to the Loire's rich heritage of monks, kings and poets. Gaston and Noël have recently added a new chapter to the story, with the conversion to full 'Biodynamic' viticulture. The decision was based on empirical observation, rather than any soft spot for New Age mumbo-jumbo: 4 years of trials in the Clos du Bourg proved wonderfully successful, and the entire estate converted in 1990. Sceptics take note !