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Domaine Samuel Billaud - Chablis 1er Cru "Montée de Tonnerre" 2021

Domaine Samuel Billaud - Chablis 1er Cru "Montée de Tonnerre" 2021

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Tasting Notes

This 1er Cru Montée de Tonnerre is mineral, complex and deep.

Samuel Billaud is considered to be one of the select few outstanding producers in Chablis. Testament to this is Samuel’s ability to draw out the unique characteristics of each of his fantastic terroirs. His wines have a distinctive elegance, balance and complexity that is seldom achieved with such precision. There are two vineyards used to make this wine. One located in the Haut-Chapelot part of Chablis with vines of 35 years of age and the other located in Montée de Tonnerre also with very old vines. 25% of the wine is matured in 600 litre oak barrels to add subtle richness.

This beautiful Chablis 1er Cru has a very precise bouquet, showing hints of white stone fruits, nectarine, white peach and also some green apple. The palate is boasting superb chalky notes, and a little bit of spice. This is a very refined wine. It can be paired with seafood, lobster, prawns and a selection of goat cheese. This wine can be enjoyed in its youth or kept for more than eight years.

The 2021 Chablis Montée de Tonnerre 1er Cru retains its serious and backward nose, very saline and still with that faint tang of kelp/Japanese nori. The palate is beautifully balanced with a keen thread of acidity, notes of orange rid and a more malic finish than I recall, yet with the same wondrous elegance and poise. This will age wonderfully in bottle and require time for the aromatics to awaken. 94pts - Neil Martin - Vinous. 100% Chardonnay.

"The 1er Cru “Montée de Tonnerre” could be a Grand Cru considering its class and complexity. Samuel has two well-located vineyards emphasizing the depth and length of this wine. This should be in every Chablis lover’s cellar!"

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 fermentation in small stainless steel tanks. The malolactic fermentation is done for 25% in 600 litre oak barrels and matured for 12 months on fine lees.

What we say

"The 1er Cru “Montée de Tonnerre” could be a Grand Cru considering its class and complexity. Samuel has two well-located vineyards emphasizing the depth and length of this wine. This should be in every Chablis lover’s cellar!"

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 fermentation in small stainless steel tanks. The malolactic fermentation is done for 25% in 600 litre oak barrels and matured for 12 months on fine lees.