1959 Vouvray Clos du Bourg Moelleux – Domaine Huet

1959 Vouvray Clos du Bourg Moelleux – Domaine Huet

Score: 98/100

The 1959 Clos du Bourg Moelleux from Domaine Huet is a legendary Loire Valley Chenin Blanc from one of the greatest vintages of the 20th century. Domaine Huet, revered for its biodynamic viticulture and ability to craft age-worthy Vouvray, produces wines of astonishing complexity and longevity. The Clos du Bourg vineyard, with its shallow limestone-rich soils, yields some of the most intense and structured wines in the region.

The 1959 Vintage in the Loire Valley

The 1959 vintage was exceptional, marked by a warm growing season and ideal harvest conditions. The long, dry summer allowed grapes to develop remarkable ripeness and concentration, while cool nights preserved the acidity. This balance resulted in brilliantly structured, opulent wines with extraordinary aging potential, especially for botrytized Moelleux cuvées.

Tasting Notes

Appearance:

A deep golden amber hue, with remarkable clarity and viscosity, indicating the wine’s richness and residual sugar. The color has deepened with age, but it still retains a brilliant sheen.

Nose:

An intoxicating bouquet of honeyed quince, dried apricots, and candied citrus peel, layered with saffron, chamomile, and beeswax. Secondary notes of almonds, lanolin, and wet limestone add depth, while subtle hints of white truffle and crème brûlée emerge with aeration.

Palate:

Lusciously textured yet impeccably balanced, the wine glides across the palate with flavors of baked pears, caramelized apples, and orange marmalade. The residual sugar is beautifully integrated, offset by a lively, electric acidity that gives the wine remarkable freshness. Notes of ginger, spice, and chalky minerality add complexity, leading to a long, lingering finish that echoes with honeyed citrus and saline tension.

Conclusion

The 1959 Clos du Bourg Moelleux from Domaine Huet is a breathtaking expression of aged Chenin Blanc, proving why Vouvray is one of the world’s most age-worthy white wines. This is a wine of history and grandeur, still offering astonishing freshness and complexity even after more than six decades. If you have a bottle in pristine condition, it is undoubtedly a once-in-a-lifetime drinking experience.