2023 Samuel Billaud 'Séchet' 1er Cru Vieilles Vignes Chablis

About the Wine

"The 1er Cru “Séchet” is matured entirely in stainless steel tanks adding to its strong acidity and tension. The green fruits and stone fruits are very fine and showing a great depth. In addition, the minerality, iodine and salivating mouth fill are delightful. It is an impressive Séchet indeed." - Clos Cachet

"Samuel Billaud established his own state-of-the-art winery in the center of Chablis in 2009, and he has emerged as one of the village’s top four or five producers, crafting wines characterized by textural seamlessness and precision. 

Working with four hectares of organically farmed estate vineyards, supplemented by purchased grapes (for which Billaud decides the harvest date, and his team usually picks the fruit), harvesting of ripe yet vibrant fruit is the rule here. 

This is followed by fermentation at 16 to 20 degrees Celsius in stainless steel tank and/or used wood (mostly 500-liter barrels from Tonnellerie Chassin), then maturation for 13 months on the lees for Petit Chablis and Chablis Village and 15 to 18 months for the premier cru and grand cru bottlings.

His wines are bright, nervy expressions of Chablis with plenty of concentration and length. Producing classy wines of crystalline purity, this address already belongs on any list of Chablis’s best." - Kristaps Karklins, Wine Advocate

Reviews

"Planted by Samuel’s grandmother in the 1930s, yielding 40/45 hl/ha in 2023, the Séchets will be kept on lees in stainless steel for a full 18 months. Marvellous intensity right across the palate, once again a truly brilliant wine from Samuel. Beautifully dry finish to a wine that is so full of fruit. Drink from 2028-2035."

92-95 Points - Jasper Morris, Inside Burgundy

"Opening in the glass to reveal a bouquet of lemon zest, oyster shell, white flowers and crushed chalk, it’s compact and chiseled, with extraordinary purity, a bright, incisive line of acidity and a strikingly sapid, mouthwatering finish. Chablis purists will want to seek this out urgently, as it ranks among Billaud’s finest premiers crus this year."

93-94 points - Kristaps Karklins, Wine Advocate

Technical Notes

At Domaine Samuel Billaud the grapes are harvested by both hand and machine for the Petit Chablis and Chablis and only by hand for the 1er Cru and Grand Cru vineyards. In the vineyard, the yields are managed strictly to accentuate the concentration of the grapes.

The harvest date is of vital importance in this regard and Samuel chooses the date without any compromise. As a result it can sometimes take up to four weeks to harvest his plots. This ensures that every plot is at optimal ripeness.

Once picked, the grapes are quickly brought to the winery and pressed in the pneumatic press. Then the juice undergoes its alcoholic and malo-lactic fermentation in small stainless steel tanks. Finally, the wines are matured for 12 months on fine lees in stainless steel tanks.

About Samuel Billaud

Domaine Samuel Billaud is located in the well-established Chablis region in the far north of Burgundy and, since its foundation in 2009, has been on the watch list of every serious Chablis fan. Why? Because Samuel is producing wine of extreme finesse, showcasing the best of what Chablis has to offer. He knows the region inside out and has an intimate understanding of its signature style.

The Billaud family has been making Chablis since 1815 under the name Billaud-Simon, with Samuel embodying the sixth generation ehir to the Chablisian spirit. Samuel spent 20 years learning and working his way up at Billaud-Simon, making a name for himself as a very skilled winemaker. With his talent for winemaking being nurtured and developed at the family estate, there was nothing holding him back when starting his own label. Today, Samuel makes delicious terroir* driven wines with minimum intervention during the winemaking process.

This results in an array of beautiful Chardonnays that are set to seduce. The crunchy acidity and minerality of the Kimmeridgian soils shine through with deft elegance. The taste is a mix of fresh apple, white peach, silex (resulting from the deposits of flint found in the soil) and oyster shell flavours along with some delightful brioche aromas. These wines are to be placed on the podium of the very best Chablis wines.

Snapshot

Region: Burgundy

Country: France

Vintage: 2023

Size: 750ml

ABV: 13%

Closure: Wax sealed cork

Grape: Chardonnay

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