Georges Laval

The soul of Cumières

The Laval family has been growing vines in Cumières for several generations, but it was in 1971 that history really changed when Georges Laval decided to bottle his own production and work the vines without herbicides or pesticides. At the time, this approach was almost revolutionary in Champagne. Today, the estate is run by Vincent Laval, who continues and expands on this philosophy by maintaining certified organic cultivation and paying extreme attention to each plot. The vines, often old, cover around 2.5 hectares in Cumières and the Ardre Valley, and each row is worked by hand, with precision and respect for living organisms.

The vineyard benefits from a remarkable terroir, dominated by the limestone and clay-limestone soils typical of Cumières, a village classified as Premier Cru and renowned for producing grapes with high maturity. This maturity, combined with strictly controlled yields, results in juices of rare intensity. The grape varieties grown mainly include Pinot Noir, Meunier and Chardonnay, but each plot is vinified separately to preserve its own identity. The partial biodynamic approach, the use of natural preparations and the rigorous maintenance of biodiversity further accentuate the aromatic precision and brightness of the fruit in the wines.

In the cellar, Vincent Laval follows a simple but demanding guideline: intervene as little as possible while perfectly controlling every action. The estate uses a traditional vertical press that allows for slow and delicate pressing. Fermentation is carried out exclusively with indigenous yeasts, in barrels of various ages or in neutral vats, depending on requirements. No fining, no filtration, very little or no sulphur, and long ageing on lees to allow the wine to gain depth without losing its clarity. Iconic cuvées such as Cumières Premier Cru Brut Nature, Les Chênes Blanc de Blancs and Les Hauts Chèvres reveal all the saline finesse and tension of the terroir, with profiles that are often chiselled and vibrant, but always full of energy and maturity.