Samuel Billaud Chablis 1er Cru “Vaillons Vieilles Vignes 2021 – 750ml Breakthru

92-94pts Jasper Morris

Fine pale lemon colour. The nose has an elegance that is really impressive in this vintage. Very clean yet with complexity, particularly towards the back. More in white fruit with less of the citrus, impressive detail behind. What delicacy, what class!

92-94pts Vinous

The 2021 Chablis Vaillons Vieilles Vignes 1er Cru, matured only in stainless steel, has a slightly more chalky bouquet with fine mineralité and tension. The palate is well-defined with crisp acidity, more weight and amplitude than the Montmains, likewise more persistent on the finish. What a superb Vaillons in a vintage where the climat struggled a little. 

91-93pts Burghound

Note: from Vaillons proper A slightly cooler and more elegant nose features notes of white pepper, citrus peel, wet stone and an abundance of classic Chablis elements. There is outstanding intensity to the overtly mineral-driven flavors that don’t possess quite the same density, yet the cuts-like-a-knife finish delivers even better length as well as more developed depth. Impressive. *Burghound Sweet Spot Outstanding!*

Winemaker Notes

Samuel Billaud established his own winery in 2009, where he employs modern winemaking techniques. Bill Nanson of Burgundy Report noted: “From the heart of Vaillons, vines over 70 years old. Like the last, it will be 15 months of tank elevage for this. A yellow-fruit width, slightly cushioned, maybe even a whiff of spice. Beautiful on the palate – mineral, silken – hyper-fluid. Ooh – slowly growing miner-citrus intensity. That’s as good a Vaillons as you will find – just so long! Bravo!