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Domaine Billaud-Simon Chablis 1er Cru Vaillons(2003)
- Winery:
- Domaine Billaud-simon
- Varietal:
- Chardonnay
- Region:
- France > Burgundy
- Type:
- White Wine
- User Tags:
- fruit, character, balance, young, precision, acidic, harvest, volume, yield, freshness
- Decanter
- 3/5
-
May 2008
- Stony nose. Lovely, complex, elegant, stony/mineral fruit. Alcohol a little warm, but has character and style.
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- Burghound
- Issue 16, Oct 01, 2004
- 85/100
-
May 2008
- Bernard Billaud told me that he has never seen a vintage like 2003, noting that there were enormous challenges. We didn't start harvesting until September 7th because we didn't feel like we had phenolically ripe fruit; I find it difficult to understand why many of my colleagues received official dispensations to start as early as August 15th. We had 2 to 3 days of rain at the very beginning of September, which seems to have restored the acidity and relieved some of the water stress of the vines. The rain restored a bit of the lost volume but yields were down fully 50% compared to 2002. I was read more...also very worried about the potential impact the higher sugars might have in terms of excess warmth on the finish but when the fermentations were finished, everything was between 13 and 13.5% with no chaptalization of course; indeed I am pleasantly surprised by the overall balance in this regard. In fact, I would go so far as to say that it would be difficult not to have wines that display plenty of warmth in the mouth that were picked before the rains. We also had some vinification challenges as well because the malos occurred at the same time as the primary fermentations did. As to vintage comparisons, 1947 is the only example that I can think of that makes sense. They have lasted remarkably well though I can't say if my 2003s will age as well. Were it me, I would drink them young but perhaps save a few bottles just to see. The 2003s will be bottled earlier than normal to preserve the freshness. As to the Billaud 2002s, they are every bit as good as previewed last year from tank and I highly recommend them to you, in particular the Preuses. (Langdon Shiverick Inc., Cleveland, OH; H&H Bancroft, Berry Bros & Rudd, Charles Taylor and The Wine Society, all of the UK). Note: 100% from Séchet A nose of heavy spice and grapefruit aromas that is quite ripe but clearly Chablis in character. The flavors are also forward, ripe and dense and while there is more depth here than in the Chablis, this doesn't offer the same level of precision. (hide)
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- Burghound
- Issue 20, Oct 01, 2005
- 86/100
-
May 2008
- Bernard Billaud told me that he has never seen a vintage like 2003, noting that there were enormous challenges. We didn't start harvesting until September 7th because we didn't feel like we had phenolically ripe fruit; I find it difficult to understand why many of my colleagues received official dispensations to start as early as August 15th. We had 2 to 3 days of rain at the very beginning of September, which seems to have restored the acidity and relieved some of the water stress of the vines. The rain restored a bit of the lost volume but yields were down fully 50% compared to 2002. I was read more...also very worried about the potential impact the higher sugars might have in terms of excess warmth on the finish but when the fermentations were finished, everything was between 13 and 13.5% with no chaptalization of course; indeed I am pleasantly surprised by the overall balance in this regard. In fact, I would go so far as to say that it would be difficult not to have wines that display plenty of warmth in the mouth that were picked before the rains. We also had some vinification challenges as well because the malos occurred at the same time as the primary fermentations did. As to vintage comparisons, 1947 is the only example that I can think of that makes sense. They have lasted remarkably well though I can't say if my 2003s will age as well. Were it me, I would drink them young but perhaps save a few bottles just to see. The 2003s will be bottled earlier than normal to preserve the freshness. As to the Billaud 2002s, they are every bit as good as previewed last year from tank and I highly recommend them to you, in particular the Preuses. (Langdon Shiverick Inc., Cleveland, OH; H&H Bancroft, Berry Bros & Rudd, Charles Taylor and The Wine Society, all of the UK). Note: 100% from Séchet A nose of heavy spice and grapefruit aromas that is quite ripe but clearly Chablis in character. The flavors are also forward, ripe and dense and while there is more depth here than in the Chablis, this doesn't offer the same level of precision. Adequate but not better. (hide)
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