2023 Samuel Billaud Chablis Grand Cru Les Preuses

For many purists, Les Preuses is the pinnacle of elegance in Chablis, and in Samuel Billaud’s hands, it reaches a level of detail that is frankly hard to beat.

Sourced from a single plot of 60-year-old vines in the heart of the climat, this is a wine defined by its longevity and shape. Samuel gives it an extended 18 months of maturation to sculpt the texture, using just enough oak to add complexity without ever stepping on the toes of the fruit.

The 2023 is a fascinating expression. It leans slightly more toward the tropical end of the fruit spectrum than the Blanchot, but that classic Billaud mineral thumbprint still floods the palate. It’s a wine of immense energy, where the richness is perfectly reined in by a keen thread of acidity and a very fine, cohesive patina from the wood.

The nose is complex and expansive, leading into a palate that is both fleshy and "edgy" - vibrating with power all the way through the finish. This is a serious, sophisticated Grand Cru for those who want a wine that is as intellectual as it is delicious. A benchmark for the domaine and a clear reminder of why Samuel is currently the name on everyone’s lips in Chablis.

95 points
"The 2023 Chablis Les Preuses Grand Cru comes from 60-year-old vines that were cropped at around 45 hl/ha. This leans slightly more toward the tropical side of the fruit spectrum, although the mineralité still floods through. The palate is well balanced with a keen thread of acidity and a patina of new oak that’s cohesive with the fruit. This is edgy and surfeit with energy on the finish. The 2023 is excellent."
- Neal Martin (Vinous)