Samuel Billaud : Chablis Village "Les Grands Terroirs" 2022

Characteristics and tasting notes of the Chablis Village "Les Grands Terroirs" 2022 Samuel Billaud

Tasting notes

Colour
This white wine from France displays a very pale, almost translucent hue, adorned with delicate green highlights that will evolve towards golden tones over time.

Nose
Wonderfully complex, the bouquet first reveals scents of nectarine, fresh lemon zest, almond and beeswax. With aeration, it develops notes of linden blossom and orange peel, underpinned by a mineral backbone reminiscent of chalk and wet stone.

Palate
Vibrant and energetic, the attack reveals a silky texture and a fine roundness. The palate unfolds aromas of orchard fruits and tangy citrus, carried by a crystalline tension. The long, dry finish is marked by a persistent salinity and a chalky minerality typical of its terroir.

Food and wine pairing

This wine pairs beautifully with fresh oysters, scallops or white fish such as turbot. It also goes very well with creamed poultry, an asparagus risotto or cheeses such as brie, camembert or fresh goat cheese.

Service and storage

This Chablis Village "Les Grands Terroirs" 2022 can be enjoyed after a few years of cellaring to reach its full harmony, and will continue to evolve favourably until around 2032.

The purity and mineral tension of a Chablis wine by Samuel Billaud

The estate

Founded in 2009, the Samuel Billaud estate quickly established itself as an essential reference in Burgundy. Descended from a long line of Chablis winegrowers, Samuel Billaud, the current owner, has succeeded in combining family heritage with an innovative vision. Located in the heart of Chablis, the estate spans fourteen hectares of vines, four of which are owned outright. Equipped since 2015 with modern gravity-flow facilities, the estate stands out for its demanding philosophy, focused on controlled yields and deep respect for the terroir, resulting in cuvées of great precision.

The vineyard

This Chablis wine comes from a blend of three distinct plots spread over five hectares, located on both banks of the Serein. These include the terroirs of Pargues and the upper part of the Montmains climat on the left bank, as well as the base of Montée de Tonnerre on the right bank. The vines, planted between 1952 and 1987, thrive on soils typical of the Kimmeridgian. The estate favours environmentally friendly practices, inspired by organic farming, with strict yield control through early bud thinning.

The vintage

2022 stands out for particularly mild weather conditions, resulting in a healthy and generous harvest. Despite a hot summer, the grapes reached optimal ripeness without excess, preserving a lovely acidity. This favourable growing cycle helped shape a harmonious vintage, combining the warmth and richness of sun-drenched years with the characteristic freshness of more temperate seasons.

Winemaking and aging

For the making of the Chablis Village "Les Grands Terroirs" 2022, each plot is vinified separately in temperature-controlled stainless steel tanks, allowing the pure expression of each terroir to come through. Fermentation takes place at slightly higher temperatures than usual, driven by indigenous yeasts. A proportion of fine lees is reintroduced before fermentation to add complexity. Aging then continues for at least twelve months on fine lees, before the final blend is made about a month prior to bottling.