Billaud Simon Chablis Tete d Or featured image
Billaud-Simon Chablis Tete d Or 2023
Vintage
2023
Region
Chablis, Burgundy
Country
France
Style
Still
Grape Varieties
Chardonnay
ABV
13%
Dietary
Vegan, Vegetarian
Sustainability
Organic Viticulture
Domaine Billaud-Simon
Domaine Billaud-Simon is a historic Chablis estate in Burgundy, France, established in 1815 and known for precise, mineral-driven Chardonnay from some of the appellation’s best sites. Based in the commune of Chablis, the domaine covers almost 17 hectares, including Grand Cru Chablis from Les Clos, Les Preuses, Vaudésir and Les Blanchots, as well as Premier Cru wines from Fourchaume, Montée de Tonnerre, Mont de Milieu and Les Vaillons. Billaud-Simon offers a clear reference point for fine Chablis, combining old vines, Kimmeridgian soils and a pure, mineral style.
Read MoreViticulture
Billaud-Simon Chablis Tête d’Or 2023 is produced from the Domaine’s best village-appellation parcels, situated close to the Premier and Grand Cru vineyards. This prestige cuvée is designed to express the upper level of Chablis village terroir, with Chardonnay planted on Kimmeridgian soils on the right bank. The vineyards have south and south-east exposure and an average vine age of 28 years, giving the wine depth, mineral precision and the structure to benefit from careful ageing.
Vinification
The grapes were harvested by hand and gently pressed using a pneumatic press to extract aromatic juice. After overnight cold settling, the musts were vinified in stainless steel vats to preserve clarity, brightness and mineral character. Alcoholic and malolactic fermentations occurred naturally. The wine was aged for 12 months, with around 20% of the cuv?e spending a short period in French oak barrels, following the approach used for the Grands Crus, to add richness and complexity without masking freshness.
2023
The 2023 vintage in Chablis was generous, healthy and well balanced. A mild winter and very dry February were followed by late-March cold, which did not damage the vineyards. Cool and mild spells in April delayed budburst until around 18 April, before warmer May weather encouraged rapid flowering in early June. July was cool and stormy, while August brought good ripening conditions through rainfall, sunshine and higher temperatures. Harvest ran from 11 to 20 September in fine weather, with healthy fruit and refined, elegant wines.
Tasting Note
Pale gold in colour, with delicate pale green reflections. The nose shows citrus and white flowers, giving a clear and refined Chablis profile. The palate is rich, smooth and opulent, balanced by lively acidity, discreet minerality and precise fruit. Medium-bodied and polished, it combines village-level freshness with added depth from carefully judged ?levage. The finish is long, harmonious and mineral, with citrus and floral persistence.
Food Pairing
Pair with scallops, crab, grilled turbot, roast chicken, goat?s cheese tart, asparagus risotto, seafood pasta, Comt? or refined fish dishes with light sauces.
Bottle Shots - Billaud-Simon Chablis Tete d Or 2023
