Samuel Billaud : Chablis 1er cru "Les Fourneaux" 2022

The Purity and Minerality of a White Wine from Chablis

The Estate

Representing the sixth generation of an illustrious winemaking family, Samuel Billaud is the current owner of this estate located in the heart of the village of Chablis, in the Burgundy region. After honing his expertise for twenty years within the family estate, he decided to strike out on his own. While his activities began in 2009, the estate was officially established in 2021. Renowned for his technical mastery, this winemaker crafts precise wines that faithfully express the richness and typicity of their terroir of origin.

The Vineyard

The plots dedicated to this cuvée extend over a radius of two kilometres along the right and left banks of the Serein. The vines, averaging around forty years of age, benefit from a south and southeast exposure on the best slopes. They flourish on Kimmeridgian soil composed of clay-limestone marl rich in marine fossils. The vineyard is managed according to sustainable farming principles, favouring soil work through ploughing, debudding, short Guyot pruning and the promotion of biodiversity.

The Vintage

The year 2022 was marked by notable climatic challenges in the region. The harvest took place during a carefully chosen weather window to ensure perfect balance and optimal ripeness of the berries.

Winemaking and Aging

Following manual harvesting in small crates, the grapes undergo rigorous sorting on a sorting table. Winemaking and aging take place in a combination of temperature-controlled stainless steel tanks and oak barrels. The maturation period ranges from 12 to 18 months depending on the cuvée, with measured use of oak to preserve the pure expression of the terroir.

Grape Variety

Chardonnay (100%). The emblematic grape variety of the vineyard, it draws from the Kimmeridgian soils here an exceptional minerality and characteristic tension that have made these great white wines world-renowned.

Characteristics and Tasting Notes for the Chablis 2022 by Samuel Billaud

Tasting

Colour
A delicate pale yellow hue, with hints of green, reveals itself to the eye.

Nose
The aromatic bouquet opens with notes of white stone fruit and white flowers, underscored by a characteristic saline minerality.

Palate
The palate offers lovely freshness and an elegant structure. Tasting reveals fine complexity with flavours of white fruit, subtle herbaceous touches and an iodized minerality, all extending into a finish of persistent length.

Food and Wine Pairing

This white wine pairs perfectly with seafood, particularly oysters, as well as with grilled fish such as sole, turbot or sea bass. It also pairs wonderfully with scallops in cream sauce or salt-crusted sea bass served with beurre blanc.

Service and Storage

For optimal tasting, it is recommended to serve this wine at a temperature between 10 and 12°C. It can be enjoyed now and will continue to evolve favourably until around 2032.