Simonnet-Febvre : Chablis 1er cru "Vaillons" 2022

Tasting notes and characteristics of the Chablis 1er Cru "Vaillons" 2022 by Simonnet-Febvre

Tasting notes

Appearance
This white wine reveals a pale golden-yellow hue, illuminated by subtle green reflections. It stands out for its remarkable clarity and brilliance.

Nose
The bouquet opens on crisp aromas of white fruits, evoking peach, nectarine and fresh quince, delicately underlined by notes of acacia blossom. A chalky minerality, typical of its terroir, intertwines with light touches of lemon zest and iodine.

Palate
The attack is clean and direct, leading into a juicy mid-palate where the white fruit fully expresses itself. The wonderfully crisp texture is supported by a refined structure and elegant minerality. The finish lingers at length on saline and mineral notes.

Serving and cellaring

To fully appreciate the complexity of this wine, it is recommended to serve it at a temperature between 10 and 12°C. Drinking well now, it will continue to evolve favourably in the cellar until around 2027.

Food and wine pairings

This white wine is ideally paired with seafood, oysters or shellfish such as lobster and scallops. It also wonderfully complements grilled fish, as well as white meats served with a creamy or buttery sauce. Finally, it will enhance fresh cheeses or aged goat cheeses.

The elegance and mineral precision of a great white wine from Chablis

The estate

Founded in 1840 by Jean Febvre, the Simonnet-Febvre House is a true institution in Burgundy. Historically renowned as the only house in the region to produce Crémant de Bourgogne using the traditional method since its inception, it was acquired in 2003 by the prestigious Maison Louis Latour. Now led by Paul Espitalié, the estate carries on age-old expertise while embracing sustainable practices, with organic certification on certain plots. Simonnet-Febvre stands out for its pure and precise wines, faithful to the identity of their terroirs.

The vineyard

This wine comes from the "Vaillons" climat, located on the left bank of the Serein at the heart of the Chablis appellation. This terroir enjoys an excellent south-south-west exposure, ensuring consistent sunshine. The vines, around 35 years old, thrive on Kimmeridgian soils rich in limestone and marine fossils, with a lower proportion of clay than on the right bank. The estate practises sustainable viticulture, naturally limiting yields to enhance the aromatic concentration of the berries.

The vintage

The 2022 vintage began with capricious weather, before giving way to periods of summer heat that favoured excellent ripening. The harvest, carried out between late August and mid-September, allowed the grapes to be picked in impeccable sanitary condition, delivering a generous vintage combining quality and quantity.

Winemaking and aging

After cold static settling, the primary fermentation of this Chablis 1er Cru "Vaillons" 2022 begins under strict temperature control. The vinification is split: 75% of the wine ferments in stainless steel tanks, while the remaining 25% is transferred into fine-grained oak barrels after three days. Following a complete malolactic fermentation, the wine benefits from 12 months of aging on fine lees. It is finally bottled without filtration.

Grape variety

Chardonnay (100%).