Domaine du Clos Naudin - Vouvray Moelleux Réserve 2018

Bettane & Desseauve

About wine:

The Moelleux Réserve, made from botrytised grapes, is the true quintessence of the estate and is only produced in exceptional vintages. Vincent and Philippe Foreau sacrificed a large part of the dry 2018 harvest for this exceptional cuvée, in which the 132 grams of residual sugar are absolutely energized by a very pure mineral tension. The wine has evolved perfectly since our last tasting; the shimmering aromatics offer dried and candied fruits, with a touch of yellow fruit that shines through on the palate, which is majestic with a radiant, perfectly energetic finish. We count the caudalies...

About the estate:

Vincent Foreau has taken over from his father Philippe on these 11.5 hectares, which will be certified organic in 2024. The dry wines, with their vibrant citrus zest finishes, gain in refinement with age. A vertical tasting dating back to 1947 demonstrates their ability to stand the test of time. The sweet wines are fantastic for their dense texture, supported by just the right tension, and the latest vintages of these gastronomic wines are truly impressive. A fifth star is in order.

RVF - La Revue du Vin de France / Guide des Meilleurs Vins de France

About wine:

Meticulous work was carried out to select the bunches affected by botrytis; the sunny character of the vintage is mellow, with magnificent nuances of spices and candied fruit. The chalky, salty sensation on the palate is impressive. Already incredibly delicious, it will age with extreme elegance.

About the estate:

When tasting Philippe Foreau's Vouvrays, everything becomes clear and legible in the Chenin; what is complex is also delicious, what is ripe remains taut, and what is precociously good is confirmed and amplified over the decades. Pure, long on the palate, with proverbial persistence, Clos Naudin's Vouvrays are as regular as a metronome despite the variations in the Loire climate. The perruches (clay-flint soils) give the estate's wines their typical character, equally at ease in sweet and dry wines; even the sparkling wines are made with extreme care. The style is often quite rich, more baroque than at Domaine Huet, and no less powerful in its lingering finish. The latest vintages have been brilliantly crafted by Vincent, Philippe Foreau's son. A bright future lies ahead for this Vouvray estate.