August 17, 2022 - On drier side of DS, wax, wool, chalk and green apple. Great length. Young but drinking well. B+/A-
July 19, 2018 - This wine is currently at its peak drinking window in my opinion. Huet has the ability to age much longer but its not going to get any better. Despite being a demi sec (off-dry) the high acidity perfectly matches the residual sugar giving it perfect balance coupled with exotic flavors of passion fruit, hint of soy sauce, pineapples, crushed rocks. Almost reminds me of a slightly lesser version of coulee de serrant but on new vintage less than half the price. Should plateau just fine for 5 years or so and will not go bad for more than 10 years but I firmly believe the peak is now! Drink and enjoy the intellectual experience for this is definitely a wine for wine nerds.
July 28, 2016 - Very smoky upon opening, something in there needs to blow off, and it does, revealing secondary aromas that are very pure and clean of wool and wax and rock - Chenin funk in spades. The wine is very rewarding, balanced and fresh tasting even though it is over 20 years old now. Pure and with a fleshy and attractive fruit character, delicious. Never really loses that flinty smoky sense though, which is not something i know from other Bourg demi-sec bottles, and which for me mars the wine a bit.
July 24, 2014 - Nice deep golden color. Nose was pretty much mute. Hard to describe why this was off, but it was. Not a lot of fruit, and the alcohol was very apparent. Disappointing.
Withholding a score because I suspect this was due to poor storage (and the perils of buying at auction).
October 29, 2013 - I did a Huet Chenin Blanc tasting for friends. This was one of the offerings. My favorite of the four along with another, with rest liking a Moelleux. Honey and pear on the nose. Lemon and stone on the palate that ends with a hint of sweetness. The finish was long. This wine just kept getting better. I really like the Demi-secs.
May 19, 2013 - Not a great showing, and I fear this bottle was mildly oxidized or at least lacking the energy and intensity one expects from a Huet. The cork was in ideal condition, without any mold on top (as had been reported below for some bottles). The color was acceptable, though perhaps a touch too golden for its age - very difficult to state with any certainty, of course. The nose and palate showed typical Vouvray characteristics along with a sherry-ish note that struck me as much too advanced for such a relatively young wine. The sweetness was not balanced by its rather anemic acidity, and was very nearly cloying. Drinkable, but unmemorable, it's complexity and intensity on a downward trajectory from first glass to last.
May 18, 2013 - Bearserkerfest Night 2-Chave Table (Sun Wah BBQ, Chicago IL): Nose: Very aromatic and perfumed nose with well balanced tones of nectarines, apricots, quince, lanolin, and white fruits. The nose was very well layered, but still with a lot of zest to it too.
Taste: Medium/full bodied with medium/high acidity. The structure is very youthful with gorgeous tones of nectarines, sweet peaches, apricots, and quince tones with some white fruits.
Overall: This was absolutely rocking. It still has a good ways to go, but it is really good right now.
May 10, 2013 - Loire based dinner at Fuleen Seafood, Chinatown, NYC w/ Brad Kane and several others. The first of 3 Demi Secs tried in a row/side by side. Light to medium yellow in the glass and medium bodied. Waxy with classic lanolin notes. Very nice but outclassed by the other 2 Demi Secs. 50+12+13+8+8 = 91
May 10, 2013 - A night of stellar wines from Vouvray, Germany and Alsace. (Fuleen Seafood House): Another bottle and another persona. This bottle was purchased on release, cellared well and was the freshest bottle I've had as of late. Deeply earthy, a character that's a hallmark to me of this vintage at Huet. It's not the typical chalky quality, but darker than that. Surprisingly, this bottle was more stone fruited than yellow, with honey notes and roasted peanut skins. Quite fresh and wonderfully balanced. I found it more burly in character than the '95 Foreau demi that followed, but equal in quality. Solid A-.
March 16, 2013 - Plenty of tasty treats as Dougherty hosts the Louis/Dressner winemakers- Huet, Foreau, Trimbach, Coche-Dury, Juge, Foillard and more. (Dougherty's.): The first few whiffs had me concerned that this would be oxidized like a bottle I had last summer, but like the '71 Moelleux, this one really freshened up with air. Initially it showed a more advanced apricot and early grey tea profile with nice earthiness, but a bit too much of an oxidative character. It soon shifted to a more quince and pear profile with the apricot moving more to the background and the earthiness taking on a more chalky character. There's a good dose of lanolin as well as dark honey note. Nice acid levels and just a hint of sweetness. Still a bit grumpy at this stage, so either give it a serious decant, or leave it be for awhile longer. A-.