Billaud-Simon : Chablis 1er cru "Fourchaume" 2022

Tasting notes and serving recommendations for the Chablis 1er cru "Fourchaume" 2022 from Billaud-Simon

Tasting

Appearance

The wine reveals a golden-white color with pale green highlights.

Nose

The nose expresses mineral elegance with direct aromas of white flowers, citrus fruits and white-fleshed fruits. Notes of lemon, white peach and flint mingle with subtle iodine touches, reflecting the richness of the Kimmeridgian soil.

Palate

On the palate, this wine reveals a fine balance between volume and precision. The texture is appealing with lovely density on the mid-palate, carried by flavors of white peach, ripe citrus fruits and stone fruits. The pronounced minerality and saline character bring structure and freshness, while the finish lingers elegantly with crystalline notes.

Food and wine pairings

This Chablis 1er cru "Fourchaume" 2022 pairs ideally with fresh oysters and other seafood. It also matches perfectly with grilled white fish, poultry in cream sauce, green vegetables in risotto or fresh goat cheeses.

Serving and cellaring

This Chablis 1er cru "Fourchaume" 2022 can be enjoyed now but has cellaring potential until around 2032. It is recommended to serve it at a temperature between 10 and 12°C.

A Chablis Premier Cru combining minerality and fruity generosity

The estate

Founded in 1815 by Charles Louis Noël Billaud, the Domaine Billaud-Simon is among the most prestigious estates in Chablis. Acquired in 2014 by Domaine Faiveley, it is now managed by the winemaker Olivier Bailly. The estate cultivates around seventeen hectares of vines spread across the finest terroirs of the appellation, including four Grands Crus and four Premiers Crus. Certified organic since July 2025, Billaud-Simon perpetuates a two-century tradition while adopting sustainable and environmentally respectful viticultural practices.

The vineyard

This Chablis comes from a 0.25-hectare parcel located within the Climat Fourchaume, on the right bank of the Serein. Facing south-southwest, the vines, around thirty-two years old, grow on Kimmeridgian limestone marl soils rich in oyster fossils. These deep, well-drained soils give the wine its characteristic minerality and distinctive salinity. The vineyard is managed according to the principles of organic farming, favoring mechanical soil work and a precision viticulture approach.

The vintage

The 2022 vintage in Chablis stands out as the sunniest ever recorded. After a spring without damaging frost, the hot and dry summer allowed optimal ripening while preserving freshness thanks to an early harvest beginning at the end of August. This early harvest helped maintain high acidity levels despite the heat, giving rise to balanced wines of around 12.5% alcohol, combining concentration and vibrancy.

Winemaking and aging

The grapes for the Chablis 1er cru "Fourchaume" 2022 are harvested by hand and carefully sorted. After pneumatic pressing, the must is cold-settled in stainless steel tanks. Alcoholic fermentation and malolactic fermentation take place entirely in temperature-controlled tanks, without the use of new oak. This Bourgogne wine is then aged on fine lees for 14 to 16 months in stainless steel tanks, developing complexity and richness while preserving its mineral purity and terroir expression.

Grape variety

100% chardonnay