Clos Naudin : Moelleux 2020

Tasting characteristics and advice for the Moelleux 2020 from Clos Naudin

Tasting

Color

Bright and clear, the wine displays a brilliant golden-yellow hue, enhanced by subtle amber highlights that reflect the grapes’ concentration.

Nose

The nose reveals remarkable aromatic complexity. First impressions offer notes of tropical fruit, notably pineapple and mango, alongside mirabelle plum and candied citrus. The bouquet then gains depth with fragrances of quince and acacia honey. With aeration, mineral nuances of chalk and flint emerge, the distinctive signature of the terroir.

Palate

The palate charms with its richness and silky, supple texture. The sweetness finds a remarkable balance thanks to vibrant natural acidity and a mineral backbone that brings tension and freshness. Fruity flavors linger with precision, each element remaining distinct. A characteristic saline touch appears mid-palate, extending the aromatic impression into a long, persistent finish.

Food and wine pairings

This Moelleux pairs beautifully with blue cheeses such as Roquefort or Gorgonzola. It also matches elegantly with semi-cooked foie gras, desserts based on fresh or dried fruits (pear, quince, fig, apricot), as well as roasted tropical fruit preparations. Lovers of Asian cuisine will appreciate it alongside dishes that are lightly spiced or subtly sweet.

Serving and cellaring

Moelleux 2020 is best enjoyed at a temperature between 8 and 12°C. Allow it to open for a few minutes in the glass so its aromas can fully express themselves. This wine has aging potential through around 2050, evolving gracefully over the decades.

A rich, balanced Vouvray moelleux, expressing an exceptional Loire terroir

The estate

Founded in 1910 by Armand Foreau, Clos Naudin now stands as one of the leading benchmarks of the Vouvray appellation. Spanning around 12 hectares, the estate has been run since 2016 by Vincent Foreau, representing the family’s fourth generation. After decades of environmentally respectful practices, the estate obtained official organic certification with the 2024 vintage. Clos Naudin’s philosophy is based on minimal intervention, both in the vineyard and in the cellar, favoring the pure expression of terroir and vintage. The estate’s wines are internationally recognized for their distinctive minerality, exceptional aging capacity, and remarkable balance.

The vineyard

The vines for Moelleux 2020 are planted on the slopes of Vouvray, in the privileged sector of Les Perruches. Benefiting from south, southeast, and southwest exposures, the parcels occupy ideal mid-slope positions for ripening. The soil is composed of flinty clay over a tuffeau subsoil, the region’s characteristic soft limestone rock. This distinctive geological composition gives the wines their signature minerality and salinity. The vines, averaging forty to forty-five years of age, are farmed according to organic principles, without herbicides or synthetic pesticides. Planting density reaches around 6,600 vines per hectare, encouraging grape concentration.

The vintage

The year 2020 in the Loire Valley offered generally favorable conditions, allowing the estate to produce its full range. The vintage proved conducive to the development of natural grape concentration and to the appearance of botrytis in certain areas of the vineyard. The climatic conditions yielded generous, well-balanced berries, combining richness and freshness.

Winemaking and aging

The Moelleux 2020 harvest was carried out by hand through successive passes, selecting bunches according to their level of ripeness and concentration. Fermentation is carried out with indigenous yeasts, with no addition of commercial yeasts. Fermentations take place in large 300-liter barrels, primarily twenty to thirty years old, with only 5% new oak renewed each year. Malolactic fermentation is deliberately prevented in order to preserve the wine’s natural acidity and tension. No chaptalization or acidification is practiced, thus respecting the authentic expression of the vintage. Aging continues on the lees in barrels before bottling.

Grape variety

100% Chenin Blanc