Billaud-Simon Petit Chablis 2023

Billaud-Simon is a respected name in Chablis, and this Petit Chablis is a single varietal Chardonnay from the outer reaches of the appellation in northern Burgundy. The grapes are hand sorted and gently pressed, and the must is cold settled in stainless steel for 12 to 24 hours to give a clean juice before a natural alcoholic fermentation in tank. The wine is then aged on its lees. There is no oak here, so the fruit and the cool-climate acidity lead, while the lees contact adds a subtle roundness and a faint bready depth without softening the line. The Kimmeridgian and Portlandian soils of the Chablis area, marine limestone rich in fossil oyster shells, are the source of the wine's characteristic minerality and salinity. The colour is pale with green tints. The nose is fresh and direct, with green apple, lemon and pear over white flowers. The palate is lean and crisp, driven by high acidity and a chalky, saline finish that is the signature of the region. Serve well chilled at 8 to 10 degrees. It is a natural match for oysters and shellfish.