2023 Samuel Billaud Les Vaillons Vieilles Vignes Chablis Premier Cru

While the origins of this domaine date back to Charles-Louis-Noel Billaud in 1815, it's the current generation winemaker Samuel Billaud that has made waves with the exceptional quality of his wines produced since the creation of this project in 2009. Following the sale of the family business Domaine Billaud-Simon to Faiveley in 2014, Samuel received further prized parcels of land and now makes wines from five of the grand cru vineyards, and five of the top premier cru vineyards. The wines are vinified in a mixture of stainless steel and large old wood barrels, the latter mainly for the premier and grand cru wines.

Other Reviews...
The bottled 2023 Chablis 1er Cru Les Vaillons Vieilles Vignes offers an expressive bouquet of orange peel, apricot and beeswax, followed by a full-bodied, saline palate that is crisp and driven by tangy acidity. Charming yet controlled, it deftly reconciles the site’s demonstrative character with the tensile restraint imparted by maturation in stainless steel. Drink 2027-2039.
92+ points
Kristaps Karklins - Robert Parker's Wine Advocate

The 2023 Chablis Vaillons Vieilles Vignes 1er Cru has a beautifully defined bouquet with hints of white chocolate and almond. The palate is smooth on the entry and slightly waxy in texture. This has a keen line of acidity, but at the moment it's just a little pinched on the finish. Drink 2026-2042.
91 points
Neal Martin - Vinous

Still a very pale colour but with (obviously) a much sunnier nose than the 2024. White fruit is almost white flesh. Still a saline bitterness at the finish to keep it on the straight and narrow. Drink from 2027-2032.
91 points
Jasper Morris MW - Inside Burgundy