2022 Samuel Billaud Chablis 1er Cru "Mont de Milieu", Burgundy, France

ABOUT THIS WINE

Grapes are hand-harvested and selected in the vineyard and are pressed using a pneumatic pressing. The limestone rich soils are portrayed beautifully through this wine.The must rests for 24 hours in low temperatures so the wine clarified. About 20% of the juice sees neutral oak again to add richness, and are aged on the lees to add texture and complexity. After aging, the wines are often racked back into stainless steel to gain freshness and tension before bottling. Aromas of lemon zest, white peach, note of citrus, flint, and salinity. On the palate there is a crisp acidity with balanced structure. Notes of citrus, peach and iodine. Lovely, long finish. 

ABOUT THIS PRODUCER

The new winery lies in the heart of Chablis. It is set up so that Billaud only needs to pump his wines once, then gravity does the rest. The rest of the facilities consist of brand-new stainless steel tanks and underground storage for barrels.

The recently purchased hectarage includes land in the grand crus Les Clos, Vaudésir, Montée de Tonnerre, Mont de Milieu, Séchet, and in the village-level vineyards Les Pargues and Chapelot, as well as a Petit Chablis parcel directly to the north of Les Clos. The 2015 vintage is the first for which he will have full control of the land for the entire year. He is also newly sourcing fruit from the Grand Crus Blanchots, Valmur, and Bougros. Due to his deep roots in Chablis, Samuel is able to purchase grapes from some of the finest, most well-established growers.

In the cellar, the premier and grand cru wines see about 15% new wood in the form of large 450 and 600 L barrels, which offsets any overt “oakiness.” The rest is fermented in small stainless steel tank.

The resulting range, from AC to Grand Cru, are layered wines rife with crunchy oyster shell and silex, and exhibit a range of flavor profiles from licorice to white peach to toasty baguette. This is top quality Chablis from a rising star producer – for white Burgundy lovers, these are not to be missed.