Domaine de la Taille Aux Loups Montlouis sur Loire Les Hauts de Husseau 2022

Same as before - this wine is simply beautiful. Elegant, refined nose of yellow and white fruits, quince, bruised apples, seaside pebbles with a whisper of smoke and lemon. Fresh ginger lurks beneath. Bright, expressive acidity meets mineral precision and creamy roundness. The balance is spot on - delicious, layered, stylish. This is why Loire Chenin can be so bloody captivating.

Oh. This wine is simply beautiful. Elegant, refined nose of yellow and white fruits, quince, bruised apples, seaside pebbles with a whisper of smoke and lemon. Fresh ginger lurks beneath. Bright, expressive acidity meets mineral precision and creamy roundness. The balance is spot on - delicious, layered, stylish. This is why Loire Chenin can be so bloody captivating.

Dry Chenin Blanc from Domaine de la Taille Aux Loups, the Loire estate Jacky Blot took over in 1992 to drag Montlouis-sur-Loire out of Vouvray's shadow. Jacky died in May 2023; his son Jean-Philippe (JP) Blot, who had been hands-on in the cellar for over a decade, runs the domaine today.

Les Hauts de Husseau is a blend of five parcels in the northern part of Montlouis, around the Husseau hamlet - the highest ground in the appellation. Vines are predominantly 70 to 90 years old, on thin flinty clay over tuffeau-style limestone bedrock close to the surface. Indigenous-yeast fermentation in barrel: 20% new oak with the balance split across 1-, 2-, 3-, and 4-year barriques. No malolactic - a Blot signature that preserves Chenin's natural acidity.

The cuvée was renamed from "Rémus Plus" with the 2015 vintage. Style is sec (dry), built to age, racy and mineral.

2022 Loire vintage: tough start with early-April frost, then one of the hottest European summers on record. Chenin held its acidity better than feared; balanced wines with both concentration and freshness.

Oh yes, this is pure bliss. Everything in its place. I just love this wine - so drinkable, so effortlessly beautiful. And the way it opens up early, inviting you in, is a real charm. The bouquet is almost perfumed: quince, bruised apples, seaside pebbles, a touch of smoke, lemon, and just a whisper of gingerbread. Bright, expressive acidity, mineral core, creamy roundness. The balance is spot on. It's delicious, layered, and stylish.

Though still youthful and slightly green, this wine already reveals its high class and potential. The nose is appealing, offering aromas of quince, flowers, sea air, pebbles, and a hint of smoke. On the palate, it presents pinpoint acidity and a crisp character, with a slightly buttery texture that keeps it well-balanced. This harmony leads to a deliciously long, flinty aftertaste. While the palate shows some greenness, a bit more time in the bottle will allow it to develop further.

This wine, though young, showcases the winery's ability to produce appealing wines early on. It presents a reserved profile with notes of quince, sea pebbles, white flowers, flint, and smoke. The palate is electric, crisp, and enduring. A delightful wine, yet its subtlety speaks volumes.

Montlouis sur Loire Les Hauts de Husseau

Tasting Notes(5)

About

More from Domaine de la Taille Aux Loups