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Georges Laval, Cumieres Les Chenes Brut Nature Millesime 1er Cru 2015
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Description
About the Producer
The Laval family has been settled in the village of Cumières since 1694, making it the oldest winemaking family in the area. Since 1947, they have strictly refrained from using chemical fertilizers, herbicides, pesticides, and other additives. When the European organic certification and management organization "ECOCERT" was established in 1971, Vincent Laval's father, Georges, founded the estate and obtained certification that same year, becoming the first organic-certified winery in the Champagne region. This legacy has spanned 50 years and has influenced numerous small-scale farmers. During the winemaking process, they continue to use the traditional vertical basket press that has been in the family for generations. Only a small amount of sulfur dioxide (SO2) is added during this stage to protect the grape juice. The grapes are fermented and aged separately in barrels based on their origin and variety. All their wines are aged in used oak barrels, including smaller barrels sourced from different regions such as Sauternes, Pessac-Leognan, and Chassagne Montrachet. Fermentation relies solely on indigenous yeasts, and no sugar is added. The malolactic fermentation occurs naturally, driven by the climate of each specific year, without intervention. Bottling takes around 10 months, and during this time, the barrels are topped up weekly. The wines are bottled without clarification or filtration, and approximately 30 days before disgorgement, they undergo manual riddling. The aim is to present the terroir of the Champagne region directly and purely to the consumer. A sommelier from a Michelin three-star restaurant, who has consistently praised the Laval Champagnes, once said, "Georges Laval is like the Paul Bocuse of Champagne, while Anselme Selosse is like Pierre Gagnaire; there is no comparison." The former follows tradition, while the latter charts his own path. Both excel in their own fields, but they share the common role of being pioneers in the world of terroir-driven grower Champagnes.
