2024 Samuel Billaud Sechet 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 vines that produce Billaud's Séchet Vieilles Vignes are the oldest that he owns, planted almost a century ago in the heart of the lieu-dit. The yields were tiny in 2024 – no more than 10 hl/ha – but produced a wine with exotic aromas of passion fruit, gooseberry and hazelnut. The texture is silky, concentrated and long. Fermentation was carried out entirely in glass wine globes to preserve the fruit's intense purity. This thrilling Chablis will age for decades to come. Drink 2030-2060.
94 points
Charles Curtis MW - Decanter

Cool, pure, layered and airy aromas focused mostly on citrus confit, lemongrass and oyster shell. There is seriously good concentration to the powerful and palate staining medium weight flavors that display equally good depth and persistence on a mildly rustic finale. This is old school Chablis, a bit rough and tumble but packed with potential. Drink through 2034+.
92-94 points
Allen Meadows - Burghound

From vines planted in the 1920s and 1930s, the 2024 Chablis 1er Cru Séchet Vieilles Vignes produced only 10 hectoliters per hectare this year and, given the tiny volume, was vinified in a glass wine globe. It soars from the glass with a bouquet of Granny Smith apple, lemon oil, sage, oyster liquor and spring flowers. On the palate, it is chiseled, displaying exemplary purity, bracing acidity and a strikingly sapid, mouthwatering finish. It is particularly incisive this year, a quality only amplified by the character of the vintage.
92-94 points
Kristaps Karklins - Robert Parker's Wine Advocate

The 2024 Chablis Les Séchets 1er Cru marks the first year that Billaud used 200-litre WineGlobes for vinification, before transferring the wine into stainless steel barrels after one year. It is very steely and austere on the nose, old-school Chablis, with green apple and a touch of grapefruit, but missing the bandwidth of the other Premier Crus. The palate is well balanced with a tangy opening, quite sharp acidity, moderate depth and admirable length, with hints of orange zest and lime on the finish. Very fine. Drink 2027-2042.
91 points
Neal Martin - Vinous

10 hl/ha translates into three wine-globes and one barrel. A light lemon tint to the colour. The bouquet is very classy, all on those dry stones, with a fantastic precision. Very direct, very linear, almost a tannic touch since the fruit is always so dry here. Good persistence. Makes one salivate! Drink from 2029-2035.
92-95 points
Jasper Morris MW - Inside Burgundy