Domaine du Clos Naudin - Vouvray demi-sec 2018

Bettane & Desseauve

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 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.

Vinous

About wine:

The 2018 Vouvray Demi-Sec is a cloud of Chenin Blanc that fills the mouth like a ghostly waft of pure fruit. It is almost weightless, yet its appeal is mesmerizing. Delicate and transparent, with flavors reminiscent of fresh pear and ripe apple. It is a harmonious whole. I wish I could taste demi-secs like this every day.