Billaud-Simon Chablis Premier Cru Vaulorent 2023
Vintage
2023
Region
Chablis, Burgundy
Country
France
Style
Still
Grape Varieties
Chardonnay
ABV
12%
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 Premier Cru Vaulorent 2023 comes from a right-bank Premier Cru whose name is linked to “la vallée au Laurent”, the valley of Laurent. It is officially composed of the lieux-dits Les Quatre Chemins, Les Couvertes and La Ferme de Couverte, and is a sub-climat of Fourchaume, often considered close in stature to the Grand Crus. The soils are middle and upper Kimmeridgian, with alternating limestone and Exogyra Virgula marl layers, and south to south-east exposure.
Vinification
The grapes were hand-harvested, manually sorted and gently pressed using a pneumatic press. The musts were cold settled for 12 to 24 hours in stainless steel before natural alcoholic and malolactic fermentations. Ageing lasted 14 to 16 months in stainless steel, preserving freshness and minerality. The wine was racked twice before bottling at the end of autumn. This restrained ?levage supports the precision, salinity and structural definition of Vaulorent.
2023
The 2023 vintage in Chablis combined generosity with balance. A mild winter and very dry February were followed by late-March cold, which did not damage the vineyards. April conditions delayed budburst until around 18 April. Warmer weather from May encouraged rapid flowering in early June. July was cool and stormy, but August provided good ripening through accumulated rainfall, sunshine and higher temperatures. Harvest took place in fine weather, with healthy grapes and wines showing refinement and elegance.
Tasting Note
Bright and clear pale gold colour, with greenish reflections. The nose is complex, offering delicate fresh pear aromas alongside toasty and smoky notes. The palate is well structured, with good freshness, fine salinity and a lively mineral character. Medium-bodied and precise, it combines fruit clarity with subtle savoury complexity. The finish is long, fresh and mineral, with the distinctive salinity of Vaulorent lingering clearly.
Food Pairing
Pair with oysters, crab, scallops, grilled sole, smoked trout, goat?s cheese, sushi, asparagus, shellfish pasta or fine seafood starters.
