Samuel Billaud - Chablis 1er cru - Les Vaillons Vieilles Vignes - White - 2023

Wine:

A favourite of the Selection Committee, the 2023 Chablis White Premier Cru Les Vaillons Vieilles Vignes strikes a remarkable balance between finesse and power. The nose is pure and mineral, with delicate chalk nuances and a beautifully integrated touch of oak aging—bringing subtle notes of toasted almond and structure without overwhelming the wine. On the palate, that gentle oak influence returns, wrapped around a dense, concentrated core—a signature of these old vines. This is a complex, beautifully crafted Chablis with outstanding balance and depth.

Vinification:

Hand harvested. Vinification and aging for 12 to 18 months in stainless steel vats and French oak barrels.

Color:

Bright golden color.

Nose:

Beautiful freshness, purity, minerality, with hints of chalk underscored by delicate, integrated, and understated aging.

Palate:

It reveals a beautiful density of wine, with concentration brought by the old vines, a complex Chablis, beautifully crafted and balanced.

Temperature:

Serve between 10 and 12°C.

Food and wine pairing:

Rabbit terrine, gravlax salmon, ginger and honey sautéed shrimp, monkfish blanquette, roast free-range poultry.

Cellar aging:

From now until 2030 and beyond for enthusiasts.

For the past 10 years, Domaine Samuel Billaud has been turning heads in Chablis, consistently delivering standout wines with brilliant tension and shimmering minerality.

Awarded 2 stars in the Guide RVF—a prestigious French wine publication—the estate may be modest in size, with just 4 hectares under vine, but it boasts an impressive share of Premier and Grand Cru parcels.

Critics are unanimous in their praise for the precision and radiance of these wines, whose expression rivals some of the finest Whites from the Côte de Beaune.