Samuel Billaud is one of the best in Chablis right now and is making some incredible wines. As many know, Samuel was the winemaker at Billaud-Simon for almost 20 years before leaving to start his own label, and his personal wines are now more impressive than those of Billaud-Simon and rank among the best wines coming out of Chablis, even rivaling Raveneau and Dauvissat. The Vaillons Vieilles Vignes is a particularly good example of why Samuel Billaud has become one of the reference-point names in Chablis since launching his own domaine in 2009. Sourced from old vines at around 60 years of age, Vaillons is located on the left bank of the Serein River and is raised without oak to keep the focus squarely on site expression, old vine fruit, and mineral precision. 2022 is one of the best vintages so far for Samuel Billauds Vaillons VV, and it's a fantastic buy for the category at this great price!

Decanter 94 points! "Produced from vines averaging 60 years old, this shows the typical Vaillons perfume with notes of white flowers. Very good drive and crispness on the palate. Complex and long aftertaste. A top quality example of Vaillons, with the style of a real thoroughbred. (Drink between 2025 - 2030)

Jasper Morris 93 points! "Bottled November. Clear mid lemon. The nose is stricter than the 2023, more a classic Vaillons, with mineral purity, white fruit, plenty of flesh but nicely balanced by the lees work. Very long finish here, an exceptionally fine Vaillons. The aftertaste just keeps on delivering.

Vinous (Neal Martin) 92+ points! "The 2022 Chablis Vaillons Vieilles Vignes 1er Cru has developed wonderfully on the nose: orchard fruit, hints of brioche and lanolin. More complex than the 2023 out of barrel. The palate is very well balanced with fine acidity, becoming stricter toward the sapid and focused finish. I'd cellar this for two or three years. (Drink between 2027 - 2044)

Chablis - Prearrivals