Samuel Billaud, Petit Chablis 2018

Undoubtedly one of the most talented winemakers in Chablis, Samuel struck out on his own back in 2009, leaving his family Domaine Billaud-Simon after 24 years as winemaker there. The style of his wines will delight Chablis purists with their steely minerality achieved though picking early, minimal use of oak and long ageing on lees. Neal Martin has highlighted him as a top producer, stating “Let’s cut to the chase. Samuel Billaud is one of the most exciting winemakers in Chablis. He has the “touch” that elevates wines to another level, an uncommon sense of completeness and complexity. Would I put him in the same tier as Vincent Dauvissat and Raveneau? I would…”

Sourced from o45-year old vines on the plateau above Les Clos with a higher proportion of Kimmeridgian soil, this unoaked white focused and precise, with saline minerality and classic oyster shell notes.