Domaine du Clos Naudin - Vouvray Moelleux 2017

Bettane & Desseauve

About the estate:

On these 11.5 hectares, which will be certified organic in 2024, Vincent Foreau has taken over from his father, Philippe. The dry wines, with their vibrant finishes of citrus zest, 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 amount of tension, and the latest vintages of these gastronomic wines possess remarkable vitality. A fifth star is well deserved.

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

About the wine:

On the sweet side, the 2017 vintage is beginning to reveal itself. It offers magnificent flavors of apricot, pear in syrup, and biscuit, combined with a wonderful concentration on the palate punctuated by chalky notes. A great vintage, well-balanced, without excessive concentration. It is built to age beautifully.

About the estate:

When tasting Philippe Foreau’s Vouvrays, everything becomes clear and evident in the Chenin; what is complex is also rich and indulgent, what is fully ripe remains, as a result, taut, and what is good from the start is confirmed and deepens over the decades. Pure, long on the palate, and with legendary persistence, the Vouvray wines from Clos Naudin are as consistent as a metronome despite the variations in the Loire climate. The Perruches (clay-flint soils) lend distinct character to the estate’s wines, which are equally at home in sweet as in dry styles; even the sparkling wines are crafted with extreme care. The style is often quite rich, more opulent than at Domaine Huet, yet no less powerful in its lingering finish. The latest vintages are brilliantly crafted by Vincent, the son of Philippe Foreau. A bright future lies ahead for this Vouvray estate.

Vinous

About the wine:

It has an intense golden color. Lots of wild apple notes, along with hints of calvados, autumn, fallen leaves, cinnamon, and warm spices. It’s quite sweet, but the palate is generous and inviting, and the finish is clean and chalky. 60 grams of residual sugar per liter.