Description: Vouvray Méthode Traditionnelle Extra-Brut 2019 | Clos Naudin - Vincent Foreau
The 2019 Vouvray Méthode Traditionnelle Extra-Brut from Clos Naudin is, above all, a terroir-driven cuvée. The Loire Valley, though not widely known for its sparkling wines, offers a terroir particularly well-suited to producing sparkling wines full of character and pleasure. At Vincent Foreau’s estate—an iconic figure in Vouvray— Chenin produces refined, mouthwatering sparkling wines, perfectly suited for pairing with fine cuisine.
Terroir and Grape Variety
At Clos Naudin, the clay-siliceous slopes rest on a limestone subsoil, locally known as “perruches.” This well-drained, cool substrate forces the vines to dig deep for water, drawing on the subsoil’s abundant minerality in the process. The Chenin here comes from a mass selection, ensuring genetic diversity that enriches the wine’s aromatic complexity. The 2019 vintage, sunny and generous, yielded a ripe and fruity wine. Unusually for the estate, the cuvée underwent full malolactic fermentation, which helped soften the grape variety’s natural tension somewhat.
Viticulture and Winemaking
The estate has been certified organic since 2015. The grapes are harvested by hand, and fermentation is carried out by indigenous yeasts in old oak barrels, where the wine is then aged for 8 months. In keeping with the traditional method, the cuvée then undergoes a second fermentation in the bottle, where it spends 3 years on the lees before disgorgement. The final extra-brut dosage ranges from 1.3 to 1.5 g/L: it borders on brut nature.
Vouvray Méthode Traditionnelle Extra-Brut 2019 | Clos Naudin - Vincent Foreau: the sommelier’s review
Philippe Mischler, sommelier at Mundovin
This wine moves me with its honesty. Vincent Foreau embraces all the hallmarks of sparkling Vouvray: the terroir’s pronounced limestone minerality, the natural acidity of Chenin, and a silky texture unique to this grape variety. The full malolactic fermentation in the 2019 vintage is anything but a minor detail. It gives the bubbles a creamy foundation that rounds out the body without detracting from its briny liveliness. With a peak drinking window extending through 2034, this wine can be enjoyed right now. Serve at 11°C, without decanting, in elegant wine glasses.
The Nose
The nose opens with notes of white flowers and orchard fruits, with quince and ripe pear leading the way. A hint of brioche emerges in the background, a hallmark of the three years spent on slats. The terroir’s limestone minerality surfaces discreetly, like a wet stone beneath the fruit.
Palate
On the palate, the attack is lively and crisp. The bubbles are fine and tight, providing structure without being overpowering. Malolactic fermentation lends a creamy texture that envelops the Chenin’s natural tension. The mouthwatering finish lingers with mineral notes and subtle, noble bitterness that persist elegantly.
Vouvray: Everything You Need to Know About This Appellation
Vouvray is one of the most distinctive appellations in the Loire Valley. Located east of Tours, it stretches across hillsides overlooking the river’s right bank. The sole grape variety is Chenin Blanc, known here as Pineau de la Loire. The soils vary between tuffeau, clay, and flint, but the clay-siliceous “perruches” on limestone dominate the best plots. The appellation produces still wines—dry, off-dry, sweet, and very sweet—as well as sparkling wines made using the traditional method, which are characterized by great finesse.
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