Chenin Blanc

We have limited volumes of this older vintage parcel. The nose hints at some waxy complexity with orchard fruits and greengages. Stony, savoury notes underpin the fruit on the palate, while the bright acidity brings added vibrancy. The wine’s core has a glorious depth of fruit.
Katherine Dart MW, Wine Buyer

The fruit for this Chenin comes from small blocks planted in the 1970s by Tierhoek, one of the pioneers of the Piekenierskloof. Classic aromas of citrus and orchard fruits emerge on the nose, with undertones of earthy minerality adding another layer of complexity. The palate is bright and zesty, redolent of grapefruit pith and quince. The mid-palate is toned, elegant and concentrated with refreshing acidity. Lively and long on the finish, this wine is truly expressive of its unique terroir. 
Katherine Dart MW, Wine Buyer

This wine provides all the immediacy and gratification you could want, but the old vines grown on ancient Swartland soils give it a granitic edge, with a residual impression that is rather more complex for this price than experience would indicate.
Mark Pardoe MW, Wine Director

South Africa and the central Loire Valley are linked by Chenin Blanc, as are husband Vincent Careme (French) and wife Tania (South African).  Their venture into Swartland produces a tremendous intense, lime and butterscotch layered wine from old vines.
Rich & full-bodied.
100% Chenin Blanc.

Roussanne, Viognier and Marsanne join Chenin Blanc in this Swartland blend from the slopes of the Kasteelberg Mountain. Subtle spice and hints of vanilla underpin the fruit, which is reminiscent of white peach and pear. Touches of grilled sourdough add to the complexity on the finish of this rich, medium-bodied white wine.

Katherine Dart MW, Wine Buyer

Bottled in Nov. 2013, the fruit for Eric's Anjou Blanc Litus actually comes from vineyards close to Chateau Pierre-Brise, adjacent to the river Layon. He only bottled 2300 examples. Precise apple core character. 12 months in barrique has endowed it with pine freshness. Wow! such tension, yet also calculating, it fixes you with a cold stare. Slightly aloof even. Hardcore Chenin Blanc. Drinking 2014 - 2022.
David Berry Green, Loire Wine Buyer

Eric Morgat is the star of Savennieres and the inherent quality of his wines is displayed in each of his cuvees and from year to year. There is finesse and elegance in this cuvee, with a tension and energy that makes pouring a second glass very tempting. Saline, stony mineral core with nervy acidity, with a weight and concentration that makes this incredibly long on the palate.
Fiona Hayes - Buyer

Gaston Huet and his wife built up a domaine with a formidable reputation over the years following its creation by Victor Huet, his father, in 1928. Gaston, war hero and one-time mayor of Vouvray, managed the family domaine from 1947 until his death in 2002. This wine comes from the original vineyard, Le Haut-Lieu (literally meaning “the high place”) which surrounds the house and extends for some nine hectares. Its wines are opulent and approachable when young but are genuine vins de garde and benefit from long-term ageing.

Burnished gold in colour, the nose is full of spiced orange, cloves, a touch of quince and lemon rind, and hints of anise. This wine is lovely and mouth-filling and yet has surprisingly high acidity and a dryness that gives the wine a beautiful mouth-watering snap.

Gaston Huet and his wife built up a domaine with a formidable reputation over the years following its creation by Victor Huet, his father, in 1928. Gaston, war hero and one-time mayor of Vouvray, managed the family domaine from 1947 until his death in 2002. This wine comes from the Clos du Bourg, a vineyard purchased by Gaston in 1953. It is the oldest site in Vouvray, dating back to the eighth century. The allure of this vineyard is not entirely contained within its neat and historic walls, but moreover its reputation for producing formidable sweet wines.

An intense gold colour, there is plenty on offer on the nose: lanolin, caramel and apple crumble to name but a few notes. Gloriously honeyed on the palate, there is a streak of vibrant freshness that stops any cloying sweetness. The finish is incredibly long and persistent. Wonderful!

An intriguing nose that draws you in, Caramel, honey, straw and wet wool are all here. Sweet, even luscious on the palate, but with great acidity that stops it being cloying. Full-bodied and rich, notes of toffee and sugar cane honey are balanced by that wonderful acidity, making it clean on the finish. Truly exceptional.
Chris Pollington, Account Manager

First things first – 1989 is a stunning vintage, one of the best in the 20th Century for the Huet wines. Essai relates to a 1ha vineyard parcel of Le Clos du Bourg which the Huet family decided to apply biodynamic principles. There is a distinctly greater level of development and general largesse to the palate here over the ‘usual’ 1989 Moelleux. This is an expansive and mouth filling wine, lusciously sweet and tropical this has decades of age ahead of it but perfectly balanced meaning it can be enjoyed now. .
Gary Owen, Account Manager

Gaston Huet and his wife built up a domaine with a formidable reputation over the years following its creation by Victor Huet, his father, in 1928. Gaston, war hero and one-time mayor of Vouvray, managed the family domaine from 1947 until his death in 2002. This wine comes from Huet’s most famous vineyard, Le Mont. It is from this site’s green-tinged soils and late-harvesting vines which Gaston produced his longest-lived and arguably most famous wines.

This is a jam-packed glassful with waxy lemons and fresh orange peel on the nose, then a bitter toffee character. The combination of ripe nectarine sweetness with refreshing acidity delivers a perfectly judged and beautifully balanced wine. Quite simply, you can taste the care taken in producing this wine.

A wonderful burnished copper colour Savoury caramel and beurre-noisette notes on the nose. Dry on the palate, savoury and serious, full-bodied and chewy, complex, but completely dry on the finish, long and fine though. One for dry wine purists..
Chris Pollington, Account Manager

This was a challenging vintage which only produced Sec & Demi Sec wines. The nose displays caramelised lemons, almost alike a toffee apple, but with lemon along with a crisp, very fine almost Sauvignon Blanc angle. This is reflected on the palate with very high acidity, well developed - certainly for drinking now possibly with a young goats cheese and toasted walnuts.
Gary Owen, Account Manager

One of the most enjoyable and memorable tastings I have been to was the tasting of the wines from the Loire valley’s Moulin Touchais a few weeks ago. After a brief hiatus while available stocks were checked, I am now very pleased to offer you these fascinating and great value wines. Here at Berry Bros & Rudd, we have long championed the great sweet wines of the Loire. From Bonnezeaux to Vouvray and Coteaux du Layon to Quarts de Chaume, there are dozens of producers that stand out but very few that have a history that stretches as far back as that of Moulin Touchais. The ancestors of the estate were producing wine as far back as 1787, over 130 years before Gaston Huet founded perhaps the region’s most famous estate. Since 1990, the estate’s 150 hectares have been presided over by Jean-Marie Touchais, the 8th generation to run the winery, and very little has changed viticulturally in the last century.

Here the belief is that the best sweet wines are produced with traditional methods: low yields, hand harvesting and slow fermentations, aiming for approximately 70-80g/l of residual sugar in the bottle. Following the vintage, the wine is bottled quickly (the following March), having never seen a barrel and then left in the cellar for a decade before release. A labour of love not an economic enterprise. Fortunately for us the previous generations of the estate had the foresight not to sell through every year so we are in a position to offer a fantastic range of vintages from the estate. 

Notes from Richard Kelley MW, one of the UK’s greatest authorities on the Loire. All are drinking now and will continue to offer pleasure for many years to come and in the case of the younger wines, decades to come!
Chris Pollington, Fine Wine Account Manager


Along with 1990 and 1996, the 1997 is one of the best three vintages of the decade. Rich, open and textured nose with some botrytis elements. This shows its distinction. Rich and lush on entry with great texture and poise. Excellent acid balance, focus and length. This is already approachable but will age and continue to evolve for many years to come. Top wine – top vintage.
Richard Kelley MW

One of the most enjoyable and memorable tastings I have been to was the tasting of the wines from the Loire valley’s Moulin Touchais a few weeks ago. After a brief hiatus while available stocks were checked, I am now very pleased to offer you these fascinating and great value wines. Here at Berry Bros & Rudd, we have long championed the great sweet wines of the Loire. From Bonnezeaux to Vouvray and Coteaux du Layon to Quarts de Chaume, there are dozens of producers that stand out but very few that have a history that stretches as far back as that of Moulin Touchais. The ancestors of the estate were producing wine as far back as 1787, over 130 years before Gaston Huet founded perhaps the region’s most famous estate. Since 1990, the estate’s 150 hectares have been presided over by Jean-Marie Touchais, the 8th generation to run the winery, and very little has changed viticulturally in the last century.

Here the belief is that the best sweet wines are produced with traditional methods: low yields, hand harvesting and slow fermentations, aiming for approximately 70-80g/l of residual sugar in the bottle. Following the vintage, the wine is bottled quickly (the following March), having never seen a barrel and then left in the cellar for a decade before release. A labour of love not an economic enterprise. Fortunately for us the previous generations of the estate had the foresight not to sell through every year so we are in a position to offer a fantastic range of vintages from the estate. 

Chris Pollington, Fine Wine Account Manager

There is a noticeable difference in colour here. Very deep, old gold and clearly a wine marked by botrytis. This is evolved, but has probably been on this plateau of development for years. There are notes of caramel on the nose. Open and expressive. Delicate and elegant on entry, it builds well with a notable thread of acidity running through the wine. Persistent and powerful finish. This is drinking now but will continue to hold for many more years. It remains my favourite wine of the decade, developing savoury and a saline character once opened. Richard Kelley MW

1989 Vouvray, Le Clos du Bourg, Moelleux Première Trie, Domaine Huet
1989 Vouvray, Le Haut-Lieu, Moelleux, Domaine Huet
1989 Vouvray, Le Mont Moelleux, Première Trie, Domaine Huet
1989 Vouvray, Le Mont, Moelleux, Fin Pressée, Domaine Huet
1989 Vouvray, Le Clos du Bourg, Moelleux Essai, Domaine Huet
1989 Vouvray, Haut Lieu, Moelleux, Première Trie, Domaine Huet

This case contains 1 Magnum bottle of each of these 3 Huet wines:

1989 Domaine Huet Vouvray Clos du Bourg Moelleux Premiere Trie
The intensely golden colored 1989 Vouvray Clos du Bourg Moelleux Première Trie offers a clear, deep, rich, spicy and intense stone fruit flavor intermixed with coolish earthy/mineral and some nutty flavors.

Very fruit-intense, elegant and really sappy on the palate, with less concentration compared to the corresponding Le Mont but with a mineral and tannic tension, this is a full-bodied, dense and persistent Chenin that is still extremely young but should age well for for decades. 
97/100 Stephan Reinhardt  eRobertParker.com #Interim - November 2015 Nov 2015 

1989 Domaine Huet Vouvray Le Haut-Lieu Moelleux
From a praised vintage, Huet's golden colored 1989 Vouvray Le Haut-Lieu Moelleux displays a very clear, subtle and lovely delicate bouquet of ripe, yellow-fleshed fruits (peaches, pineapples, raisins) along with a delicious earthy/chalky background. Round, rather semi-sweet and very delicate on the palate, this elegant and balanced Chenin reveals a great finesse, vitality and lingering salinity.

Medium-bodied but intense and fine, this wine is lifted by its delicate and ludic acidity, whereas the tannins are slightly austere in the beginning but delicate after aeration. The finish is stimulating in its finesse and tender grip. This is an excellent wine to be enjoyed over the next 30+ years
96/100 Stephan Reinhardt  eRobertParker.com #Interim - November 2015 Nov 2015 





1989 Domaine Huet Vouvray Le Mont Moelleux Premiere Trie
uminous golden-yellow in color, the ginger-flavored 1989 Vouvray Le Mont Moelleux Première Trie shows the subtle and herbal-flavored, coolish and aristocratic bouquet typical for this lieu-dit, which is adjacent to the Loire with its green-tinged marl and silex soils. Very clear and delicate yet intense and concentrated fruit aromas, along with chamomile and mineral flavors on the nose, migrate to an extremely finesse-full and highly elegant palate with sweet peach aromas and a great and intense, stimulatingly pure, precise and salty but most of all endless finish.

This Le Mont seems terribly sweet but isn't technically spoken: 79 grams per liter is 13 grams less than in the Haut-Lieu 1ere Trie and just a third of the Clos du Bourg 1ere Trie Essai. However, there is no fat or boldness here since the sugar is lapped around from the vivacious acidity and the crystalline minerality of this straight, filigreed yet firm and absolutely delicious wine that seems almost eternal in its vitality and energy. A gothic cathedral built on Chenin Blanc. 
99/100 Stephan Reinhardt  eRobertParker.com #Interim - November 2015 Nov 2015