Domaine du Clos Naudin - Vouvray blanc Sec 2021

Bettane & Desseauve

About the wine:

As is always the case at this stage, the wine is still a bit tight, but it will begin to open up in three or four years to complement the finest shellfish, and in 10 years it will enter its prime, a phase that can last for decades.

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:

The 2021 vintage is currently quite concentrated, much like the estate’s younger vintages. It should open up over the next few years and express itself with great vitality.

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:

When tasted in May 2022, the 2021 Sec had been bottled for only a week. This is a fresher interpretation from this estate, with a delicate linearity and a tension that runs through its quiet core. Although its edges are rounded, this wine possesses a certain austerity that allows it to evolve slowly. Flavors of pear and floral notes come through on the finish. Give it at least three to five years to soften, but it will begin to develop and come into its own in 8 to 10 years.