Billaud-Simon Chablis 1er Cru Les Vaillons

Bright, clear hue with attractive golden tinges. This 1er Cru offers remarkable aromatic complexity with aromas of ripe citrus and white flowers. The palate is round and seductive with a lively attack. Excellent length and a refined aromatic persistency combining fruity notes and a delicate acidity. Pleasant sensation of freshness.

Burghound 90-93♥: An overtly floral-suffused nose reflects notes of sea breeze, zest confit and a whiff of white pepper. There is notably better refinement if not necessarily better density to the beautifully textured medium-bodied flavors that possess even better depth on the lightly austere, structured and lingering finale. While it should repay a decade or so of keeping, it should also be reasonably approachable after only 4 to 5 years.

Decanter 91: Plenty of ripe sunny fruit here. Crisp acidity, lovely purity, one for relatively early drinking. Salty edge to finish. From six plots spread across Vaillons, harvested at separate times. Fermented individually, blended in August, then aged for several months.

Wine Enthusiast 93: This wine is opulence bottled. Luxurious aromas of brioche, pear tart, Honeycrisp apple and dried lemon zest fill the nose. The palate is rich with well-integrated fruit that is restrained yet imminently present and citrus spritzed.

Burghound 91-93♥: Here too there is just enough wood to mention framing the cool and bright aromas of mineral reduction lemon confit and refreshing sea breeze nuances. There is excellent density, especially for the vintage, to the middle weight flavors that are rich and caressing while maintaining good verve that carries over to the clean, dry and youthfully austere finale. This could use more depth but the fine potential is evident. Lovely.