George Laval 'Les Chênes' Blanc de Blancs Premier Cru Champagne Brut Nature 2022

Wine Type: Sparkling
Style: Single-vineyard Blanc de Blancs; citrus-driven, textured, chalky, saline, zero-dosage
Vintage: 2022
Bottle Size: 750ml
Grape Variety: 100% Chardonnay
Appellation: Champagne AOC / Premier Cru
Country: France
Region: Cumières, Vallée de la Marne, Champagne
Producer: Champagne Georges Laval
Winemaker: Vincent Laval
Vineyard: Les Chênes, a south-facing, mid-slope parcel on the eastern side of Cumières, below Hautvillers
Soil: Chalk beneath a thin layer of clay-loam topsoil
Farming: Certified organic; organic farming since 1971; hand-harvested
Alcohol: 12.5%
Fermentation: Indigenous-yeast fermentation in oak barrels
Aging: Oak-barrel élevage followed by lees aging in bottle; base wine bottled without fining or filtration; zero dosage
Food Pairings: Seared scallops, roasted lobster, oysters, turbot with brown butter, roast chicken, mushroom tart, aged Comté

Tasting Note:
Laval’s 2022 Les Chênes combines ripe citrus and subtle honeyed notes with a chalky, saline finish. The palate is concentrated and generous, with a broad texture balanced by fresh acidity and a persistent mineral character. Despite the zero dosage, this is not a lean or austere Champagne: ripe Chardonnay supplies the depth and balance. Give it room to open in a white-wine glass and pour alongside seared scallops, roasted lobster, or a buttery mushroom tart.

About the Producer:
Georges Laval is a small family grower estate in Cumières, where organic farming has been central since 1971. Vincent Laval has led the cellar since 1996, continuing his father’s focus on healthy vineyards, ripe fruit, and wines that express their individual sites. Native-yeast barrel fermentation, limited sulfur, and bottling without fining or filtration define the approach. Les Chênes isolates a south-facing Chardonnay parcel, capturing the combination of fruit concentration and chalky freshness that makes this hillside distinctive.