Billaud-Simon : Chablis Village 2022

Tasting Notes and Recommendations for the Chablis Village 2022 by Billaud-Simon

Tasting

Appearance

A beautiful pale yellow hue with delicate green highlights.

Nose

The nose reveals delicate aromas of white peach and citrus (lime, grapefruit), accompanied by subtle notes of brioche and flint. With aeration, floral hints of hawthorn and white flowers emerge, along with discreet anise nuances.

Palate

On the palate, this Chablis Village 2022 charms with its supple, light texture while offering lovely mid-palate density. Flavors of citrus and green apple dominate, supported by a saline minerality typical of Kimmeridgian soils. Natural acidity structures the whole with precision and elegance. The finish lingers with lemony and mineral notes, reflecting the authenticity of the terroir.

Food and wine pairings

This Chablis Village 2022 pairs ideally with fresh oysters and seafood, creating perfect harmony between the wine’s minerality and iodized flavors. It also pairs beautifully with grilled or pan-seared white fish (sea bass, sole, cod), delicate shellfish such as scallops or langoustines, as well as sushi and sashimi. Poultry in cream sauce, chicken with mushrooms, and fresh goat cheeses also make excellent matches. Asparagus with beurre blanc sauce will also find in this wine a partner of choice.

Serving and cellaring

This Chablis Village 2022 can be enjoyed now or cellared for several years to develop further complexity.

A Chablis Village faithful to the typical minerality of its Burgundian appellation

The estate

Founded in 1815 by Charles Louis Noël Billaud, the Domaine Billaud-Simon is among the most renowned producers of Chablis. Since 2014, the estate has belonged to the Faiveley family, who have preserved the identity and philosophy of the domaine. Now led by Erwan and Eve Faiveley, with Olivier Bailly serving as oenologist and technical director since 2014, the estate farms around 17 hectares of vineyards spread across both banks of the Serein. The domaine owns parcels in four grand crus (Les Clos, Vaudésir, Les Preuses, Les Blanchots) and four premier crus (Montée de Tonnerre, Fourchaume, Mont de Milieu, Les Vaillons). Committed to certified organic viticulture starting with the 2025 vintage, Billaud-Simon embodies the excellence of Chablis wines through an approach that respects the Kimmeridgian terroir.

The vineyard

This Chablis comes from parcels located within a two-kilometer radius of the estate’s facilities, on both banks of the Serein. The vines rest on the famous Kimmeridgian soils, formed 150 to 155 million years ago during the Jurassic period. These unique soils, composed of limestone, clay, and marine fossils (notably oyster shells), give the wines their characteristic minerality and exceptional iodine content. This particular geological composition favors the expression of a linear, taut, and mineral chardonnay, radically different from the more opulent expressions found in the clay-rich terroirs of the Côte d'Or.

The vintage

The 2022 vintage in Bourgogne represents a remarkable success after the difficult 2021 season marked by frost and disease. The year benefited from timely storms that brought the necessary moisture without excess, while hail damage was largely avoided. The warm summer allowed for excellent ripeness with generous peach and pear aromas, while the estate’s philosophy of late harvesting preserved high levels of acidity. The 2022 vintage therefore combines the freshness of cooler years with the fruity concentration of warm vintages, creating an ideal balance.

Winemaking and aging

After manual harvesting in small crates, the grapes for the Chablis Village 2022 are sorted on a vibrating table before gentle pneumatic pressing. The must then undergoes cold settling for 48 hours. Alcoholic fermentation takes place in temperature-controlled stainless steel tanks with selected neutral yeasts, thus preserving the expression of fruit and minerality. Malolactic fermentation is carried out in the same vessels. This Chablis Village receives no aging in oak barrels, in accordance with the estate’s philosophy favoring the pure expression of the Kimmeridgian terroir.

Grape variety

100% chardonnay