Huet 2002 Vouvray “Le Haut Lieu” Demi sec

K

Karen Goetz

Karen Goetz
Original vintage purchase from importer.
Color is deep, bright gold.
Bouquet: Lemons, ripe quince and stoniness; underlain with a honeyed, mature chenin blanc quality that is not old but is like a bee stinging a ripe pear on the ass (on the tree); one has to be careful to not attribute "tiredness" to this aged quality because chenin blanc from the Loire tends to brighten up and freshen up after the bottle has been opened after cellarage. The nose has a lazy quality to it that suggests age and maturity; l don't pretend to predict where it is going from here.
Taste: Lovely warm yet stony yellow citrus fruits, smooth entry into my mouth; then a bit of acidity that provides structure and pleasure; it has a lissome quality that keeps it alive in my mouth; nice round acidity on the finish that brings it all together in a fresh way; some rhubarb notes afterwards; bit of chenin blanc brassiness that rings like a tiny bell in my mouth.
OK with gently barbecued sockeye salmon a la fresco; would be better with a cream based clash..
Note: I removed this bottle four days ago from wine cellar and it's been in refrigerator; standard practice for me.
 
Karen, evocative note on a lovely wine. You don’t note the sweetness level, but I’ll hazard that it’s Demi-sec? Also, you’re no doubt aware of the concerns about premox in this vintage chez Huet. It sounds like you dodged that bullet.

Mark Lipton
 
originally posted by MLipton:
Karen, evocative note on a lovely wine. You don’t note the sweetness level, but I’ll hazard that it’s Demi-sec? Also, you’re no doubt aware of the concerns about premox in this vintage chez Huet. It sounds like you dodged that bullet.

Mark Lipton
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Mark, I know we have discussed that issue ad infinitum, but since I had (and still have a few bottles) cases of 2002 Huets which were almost all oxidized, I believe that there is now an "eye of the beholder" perception condundrum, where one person might cite "honeyed, lazy quality that suggests age . . ." finding the wine to be simply mature, while I might find the same wine to be irremediably oxidized.
 
originally posted by mark e:
originally posted by MLipton:
Karen, evocative note on a lovely wine. You don’t note the sweetness level, but I’ll hazard that it’s Demi-sec? Also, you’re no doubt aware of the concerns about premox in this vintage chez Huet. It sounds like you dodged that bullet.

Mark Lipton
Click to expand...

Mark, I know we have discussed that issue ad infinitum, but since I had (and still have a few bottles) cases of 2002 Huets which were almost all oxidized, I believe that there is now an "eye of the beholder" perception condundrum, where one person might cite "honeyed, lazy quality that suggests age . . ." finding the wine to be simply mature, while I might find the same wine to be irremediably oxidized.
Click to expand...

But it is also possible that there is bottle variation. Most of my stock of 02s did seem oxidized. But there were surprises here and there.And none of my 02 bubbly seemed oxidized, despite its being reported to be oxidized elsewhere. It's possible that I don't know the difference, but there were perceptible differences, whether I identified them properly or not.
 
originally posted by Jonathan Loesberg:
originally posted by mark e:
originally posted by MLipton:
Karen, evocative note on a lovely wine. You don’t note the sweetness level, but I’ll hazard that it’s Demi-sec? Also, you’re no doubt aware of the concerns about premox in this vintage chez Huet. It sounds like you dodged that bullet.

Mark Lipton
Click to expand...

Mark, I know we have discussed that issue ad infinitum, but since I had (and still have a few bottles) cases of 2002 Huets which were almost all oxidized, I believe that there is now an "eye of the beholder" perception condundrum, where one person might cite "honeyed, lazy quality that suggests age . . ." finding the wine to be simply mature, while I might find the same wine to be irremediably oxidized.
Click to expand...

But it is also possible that there is bottle variation. Most of my stock of 02s did seem oxidized. But there were surprises here and there.And none of my 02 bubbly seemed oxidized, despite its being reported to be oxidized elsewhere. It's possible that I don't know the difference, but there were perceptible differences, whether I identified them properly or not.
Click to expand...

Yes, true. There were exceptions, but only on the demis (for me, at least). Completely agree on the 02 bubbly. Never had an oxidized one. But obviously the corks were of a rather different type and the CO2 pressure likely contributed to the wines' preservation.
 
But the exceptions were not on demis for me and there are reports of others finding the bubbly oxidized. This really is a case where one's own experience is a manifestly insufficient basis for induction and even moreso for doubting someone else's tasting note. That person may well be wrong, but your evidence for it is, by any reasonable calculation, insufficient.
 
Hi Mark,
You got it, Demi-sec. I neglected to put that important detail in the heading and will correct it! It was a lovely wine, all right, and very fresh the whole time. My experience with properly aged Vouvray is that I find heavier notes In the fruit and it resonates more warmly in my mouth; not a flaw. A relaxation and an additional dimension of flavor.
 
originally posted by Jonathan Loesberg:
But the exceptions were not on demis for me and there are reports of others finding the bubbly oxidized. This really is a case where one's own experience is a manifestly insufficient basis for induction and even moreso for doubting someone else's tasting note. That person may well be wrong, but your evidence for it is, by any reasonable calculation, insufficient.
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Second day open note:

Fresh bouquet, more granular fruits and yellow spices. Taste is limpid and has precise notes of acidity that structure the flavors and pull them all together. Ripe fruit and stones bound together. Lovely. This wine is more relaxed today but still has some cut to it, c'est charpenté and lissome at the same time.
 
originally posted by Karen Goetz:
originally posted by Jonathan Loesberg:
Hi Karen,

Why are you quoting me to introduce your second day note?
Click to expand...

I liked what you said.
Click to expand...

Thank you. I am forced to point out that quoting people to praise them is so unheard of on the internet as to be almost de facto illegal. So, brava, indeed for web civil disobedience.
 
originally posted by Jonathan Loesberg:
originally posted by Karen Goetz:
originally posted by Jonathan Loesberg:
Hi Karen,

Why are you quoting me to introduce your second day note?
Click to expand...

I liked what you said.
Click to expand...

Thank you. I am forced to point out that quoting people to praise them is so unheard of on the internet as to be almost de facto illegal. So, brava, indeed for web civil disobedience.
Click to expand...

can i quote you on that?
 
originally posted by robert ames:
originally posted by Jonathan Loesberg:
originally posted by Karen Goetz:
originally posted by Jonathan Loesberg:
Hi Karen,

Why are you quoting me to introduce your second day note?
Click to expand...

I liked what you said.
Click to expand...

Thank you. I am forced to point out that quoting people to praise them is so unheard of on the internet as to be almost de facto illegal. So, brava, indeed for web civil disobedience.
Click to expand...

can i quote you on that?
Click to expand...

Only if you are willing to accept the legal consequences and also to thereupon write something to stand with Civil Disobedience or Letter from a Birmingham Jail.
 
originally posted by Jonathan Loesberg:
Only if you are willing to accept the legal consequences and also to thereupon write something to stand with Civil Disobedience or Letter from a Birmingham Jail.
Click to expand...
Reading Gaol produces works, too!
 
De Profundis has some great moments, but it is my least favorite work by Wilde (that's not true. I"ve never been fond of the fairy tales). I'll take the Portrait of Mr. W.H. anytime.
 
originally posted by Jonathan Loesberg:
originally posted by robert ames:
originally posted by Jonathan Loesberg:
originally posted by Karen Goetz:
originally posted by Jonathan Loesberg:
Hi Karen,

Why are you quoting me to introduce your second day note?
Click to expand...

I liked what you said.
Click to expand...

Thank you. I am forced to point out that quoting people to praise them is so unheard of on the internet as to be almost de facto illegal. So, brava, indeed for web civil disobedience.
Click to expand...

can i quote you on that?
Click to expand...

Only if you are willing to accept the legal consequences and also to thereupon write something to stand with Civil Disobedience or Letter from a Birmingham Jail.
Click to expand...

you drive a hard bargain.
 
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