Tasting Notes & Ratings
Grape
100% Chardonnay
Tasting notes
The 2022 Samuel Billaud Chablis Grand Cru Vaudésir is a powerful yet impeccably elegant wine, offering a layered aromatic profile of stone fruits—peach and apricot—alongside lighter exotic notes of lychee, supported by hints of green apple, pear, and delicate white flowers such as acacia and lime blossom. Its mineral signature is unmistakable, marked by flinty, chalky nuances and a subtle sea-breeze salinity. On the palate, the wine is rich, weighty, and intensely concentrated, driven by vibrant acidity that provides lift and precision. Complex touches of spice, honey, and early toasty-vanilla accents from its oak élevage add depth without overshadowing its pure Chablis character. The finish is long, firm, and resonant, promising superb integration and aging potential.
Expert ratings
Vinous 97
More About The Winery
The Billaud family has been producing outstanding Chablis since 1815, and today Samuel Billaud, the 6th generation, is recognized as one of the region’s most talented winemakers. After establishing his own domaine in 2010, Samuel quickly rose from a “rising star” to being regarded among the very best in Chablis, alongside Raveneau and Dauvissat.
Samuel Billaud crafts terroir-driven wines of extraordinary precision and vibrancy. From the crisp, steely freshness of Petit Chablis to the depth and complexity of his Premier and Grand Crus, his wines crackle with minerality, tension, and elegance, perfectly capturing the essence of Chablis’ Kimmeridgian limestone soils.
International critics, including Neal Martin, consistently praise Billaud’s wines for their singular clarity and poise. They are the embodiment of purity, finesse, and ageing potential, making them highly sought after by collectors and sommeliers worldwide.