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The August 2018 Distinguished Cellar Auction
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1 / 2Lot 370
Estimate: $180
This auction has ended. Bidding is closed.
Collection name
Reviews
93NM
"The 2015 Chablis Grand Cru Bougros has a splendid bouquet . . . . There is real delineation and poise here, with walnut and smoke emerging with time and struck flint emerging later. The palate is well defined with a fine bead of acidity (although the acidity level is lower than in Blanchot). Touches of blackcurrant leaf and quince dovetail into a very energetic finish that lingers for over a minute. Superb . . . . Through his contacts, there is also an expansion of his portfolio so that from the 2015 vintage he now has a full complement of six grand crus to his name. I asked Samuel about the 2016 vintage. “The average yield was between 15 and 30 hectoliters per hectare, around half the normal production . . . . This was a fantastic set of wines from Billaud . . . . One can speculate whether he would have been able to achieve such quality had he still vinified the wines in the temporary facility he occupied beforehand—I think not. That should take nothing away from a skilled and experienced winemaker whose approach I think is spot on, in particular his assiduous use of used barrels that do not impede upon the terroir expression and a judicious use of reduction that lends complexity without dictating the taste. The 2015s and 2016s might have been born under trying circumstances, but with the new winery up and running, who knows what brilliant wines lie around the corner."
Region
White
Country
Score
"The 2015 Chablis Grand Cru Bougros has a splendid bouquet . . . . There is real delineation and poise here, with walnut and smoke emerging with time and struck flint emerging later. The palate is well defined with a fine bead of acidity (although the acidity level is lower than in Blanchot). Touches of blackcurrant leaf and quince dovetail into a very energetic finish that lingers for over a minute. Superb . . . . Through his contacts, there is also an expansion of his portfolio so that from the 2015 vintage he now has a full complement of six grand crus to his name. I asked Samuel about the 2016 vintage. “The average yield was between 15 and 30 hectoliters per hectare, around half the normal production . . . . This was a fantastic set of wines from Billaud . . . . One can speculate whether he would have been able to achieve such quality had he still vinified the wines in the temporary facility he occupied beforehand—I think not. That should take nothing away from a skilled and experienced winemaker whose approach I think is spot on, in particular his assiduous use of used barrels that do not impede upon the terroir expression and a judicious use of reduction that lends complexity without dictating the taste. The 2015s and 2016s might have been born under trying circumstances, but with the new winery up and running, who knows what brilliant wines lie around the corner."
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The world's most influential fine-wine producer and the benchmark for Bordeaux, Burgundy, Champagne and the Rhone. Its appellation (AOC) system codifies geography, grape and method, and its wines set the global standard for age-worthiness and terroir expression.
Produces the world's most revered Pinot Noir and Chardonnay from a mosaic of tiny, terroir-defined climats. Its hierarchy of village, Premier Cru and Grand Cru vineyards makes site the ultimate expression of quality.
Produces steely, mineral Chardonnay from Kimmeridgian limestone in Burgundy's cool north, prized for precision, purity and saline drive.
2015 in Burgundy was warm and dry, yielding concentrated, powerful and opulent reds with ripe tannins from low yields; the whites are richer and generous, though some show comparatively lower acidity.
The world's most versatile white grape, producing everything from steely Chablis to rich, oaked whites. Its neutrality makes it a mirror of terroir and winemaking, and the foundation of white Burgundy and Champagne.