Samuel Billaud : Chablis 1er cru "Montmains" 2022

Characteristics and Tasting Notes for the Chablis 2022 by Samuel Billaud

Tasting

Colour
The colour reveals a luminous pale yellow hue, enhanced by silvery reflections.

Nose
The bouquet opens with citrus aromas such as lemon and grapefruit, delicately intertwined with notes of white flowers. With aeration, a complex and typical minerality emerges, evoking chalk, flint and subtle iodine touches.

Palate
The attack is lively and shows great freshness. The mid-palate reveals a lovely tension with flavours of green apple, citrus zest and a saline touch. The finish lingers with persistence, offering a precise and refined sensation.

Food and Wine Pairing

This white wine pairs ideally with raw oysters, shellfish or grilled white fish. It also goes wonderfully well with hard cheeses such as Comté, as well as fresh goat cheeses.

Service and Storage

For optimal enjoyment, it is recommended to serve this Chablis 2022 at a temperature between 10 and 12°C, after decanting for thirty minutes to an hour. This wine can be enjoyed now and will continue to evolve favourably until 2032 or so.

Other Characteristics

This wine has an alcohol content of 12.5%.

The Authentic Expression of a Great White Chablis

The Estate

Located in the heart of the Chablis appellation in Burgundy, France, the estate was officially established in 2021 by Samuel Billaud. Representing the sixth generation of an illustrious winemaking family, he first worked for twenty years within the family estate before setting out on his own. Drawing on his expertise, the current owner crafts wines that blend tradition and modernity. The estate stands out for its environmentally respectful approach and its commitment to letting the purity of each terroir express itself, placing its cuvées among the region's benchmarks.

The Vineyard

The vines, on average around forty years old, thrive on Chablis's famous Kimmeridgian soils, composed of clay-limestone marls rich in marine fossils. The estate favours sustainable farming, recently certified organic, promoting biodiversity and mechanical soil work to ensure grapes of optimal quality. This cuvée is a blend of two specific plots with complementary profiles, Les Pargues and Les Cartes.

The Vintage

The year began with a mild, dry winter, followed by a cold spell in April whose damage was limited thanks to the delayed growth cycle. After ideal flowering at the end of May, summer proved particularly hot and marked by severe drought. Fortunately, saving rains at the end of August helped relaunch berry ripening, resulting in a calm and high-quality harvest in September.

Winemaking and Aging

Hand-harvesting in small crates precedes direct pneumatic pressing and cold settling. Alcoholic fermentation for this Chablis 2022 takes place in stainless steel tanks with indigenous yeasts, followed by complete malolactic fermentation. Ageing lasts from twelve to eighteen months, divided between stainless steel tanks and neutral oak barrels, a method tailored to the specific needs of each plot to preserve the identity of the terroir.

Grape Variety

100% Chardonnay.