2012 Chablis Les Clos
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Tasting notes
This wine was tasted blind at the Burgundy 2012 tasting in Beaune. The 2012 Chablis Grand Cru les Clos is showing quite a bit of oak on the nose, touches of white peach and rosewater, but perhaps not expressing the terroir as well as the Les Clos from Duplessis - at least at this juncture. The palate is better; it is clean and fresh with well-judged acidity, just a little oaky perhaps towards the finish, but one can see that this is commercially savvy - yet that almost diverts attention away from its quite fabulous balance and impressive sustain.
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Antonio Galloni, Vinous
Antonio Galloni, Vinous
More reviews and scores
The 2012 Chablis Les Clos is all about texture. A deep, layered wine, the Clos is going to need at least a few years to fully blossom, but it is impressive today. Hints of white orchard fruit meld into flowers and subtle spice notes in a striking, compelling Chablis that is a wonderfully alive in the glass. There is so much to look forward to here.
Billaud's 2012 Chablis Les Clos is drop-dead gorgeous. Layers of bright, mineral-infused aromas and flavors captivate the senses in a brilliant Clos, all underpinned by the energy and tension that is the hallmark of this great site. Here, too, quantities are minuscule. The 2012 was vinified in a single 450-liter cask, but that barrel is now three years old, so the wine is less marked than previous releases. Today, the Clos is quite closed in on itself, but it should be fabulous pretty much upon release given the style of the year.
About the producer
Samuel Billaud started making wine under his own name in 2009, but he is one of the most experienced producers in Chablis, having made wine in the region since 1985.