Billaud-Simon Chablis Les Preuses Grand Cru

Light yellow in color with golden reflections. The nose is rich yet delicate with mineral, creamy, floral and slightly iodized notes combined with a touch of honey and dried fruits. The palate reveals a direct attack and a powerful, well-honed and distinctive mid-palate. This wine offers a remarkable reflection of its clay terroir. Aromas of citrus blend harmoniously with mineral and iodized notes from its outstanding terroir.

2021

Burghound 93-95: This arguably possesses the most obvious Chablis typicity in the entire range, indeed it could really be from nowhere else with its beautiful nose of acacia blossom, quinine, iodine and shrimp shell wisps. The sleek, intense and beautifully textured medium-bodied flavors flash excellent minerality and detail on the highly complex and persistent finale that is impeccably well-balanced. This stylish and very classy effort is pretty much textbook Preuses.

Vinous 92-94: The 2021 Chablis Les Preuses Grand Cru has a well-defined bouquet and perhaps is the most complete of the Grand Crus from the Domaine. The palate is well balanced with a touch more substance than Les Clos, fine acidity, quite taut and harmonious with good grip and energy on the finish. I can see this ageing nicely in bottle.

Decanter 94: Always a favourite in the Billaud-Simon line up, Preuses comes from a plot totalling 0.41ha, with the vines planted in 1949. A very elegant and polished grand cru. A lovely wine in 2021. No oak was used in the blend this year and the weight and concentration are very well supported by crisp acidity, with a mineral, saline edge to finish.

2022

Burghound 92-95: In the same fashion as the Les Clos, very generous wood influence stops just short of overshadowing the attractively spicy and floral nose of shellfish, sea breeze and quinine. The medium-bodied flavors are rich to the point of opulence thanks to the abundance of sappy dry extract that also serves to buffer the firm acid spine shaping the wonderfully complex, persistent and balanced finale. This is oakier than I prefer but the density is such that if given time, it should successfully integrate. Excellent.

Decanter 94: Billaud-Simon always produces a super-classy Les Preuses. A more restrained, racy style of grand cru. Less wood evident here, which lets the ripeness of the fruit shine through. Very nice acidity. Lots of enjoyment and mineral notes to finish. Long and elegant. 70-year-old vines from one plot. Three barrels used in 2022, with a small proportion (13%) of new oak.