After finishing his studies in 1991, Vincent Laval has taken over operations at this historic property as the fourth generation at Georges Laval.  The family has resided in Cumières since 1694!  Since 1971, the domaine has been fully organic, one of the first wineries in the region to make this conversion.  

Of the 2.5 hectares of vines that the Laval’s own and farm, 2 of them are in Cumières and only a 1/2 hectare is in Chembrecy in the Montagne de Reims. The fruit from the Chambrecy parcel goes into Vincent’s only wine produced with reserve juice, Garennes. However, the wines of the domaine are really all about Cumières and the family’s holdings in the village.  Laval produces some of the most profound, flavorful and terroir driven Champagne within the tiny 1er Cru of Cumières. 

Although the entire production rarely hits 10,000 bottles annually, Vincent does manage to carve out 3 distinct bottlings from single vineyard sites alongside his two village labeled bottlings. His single vineyard bottlings include Les Chênes, Les Hautes Chèvres, and the most recent addition to the line-up Les Longues Violes.  All wines are made in a similar fashion; after meticulous selection at harvest the grapes are pressed in a traditional 2000kg Coquard vertical press. The vins clairs are fermented with native yeasts, aged in barrels, bottled with low sulfur and typically without dosage.

Les Longues Violes a massale selection planted vineyard with Pinot Meunier vines planted in 1947 and Pinot Noir vines that were planted in 1964 and 1984 | the first bottling of this single lieu dit was with the 2012 vintage, 100% Pinot Noir | the wine has yet to be released.  

This is the second release of Vincent's top bottling.  This just needs time.  It opens up a touch green, like fresh snap peas, but slowly evolves giving way to herbal and toasty notes, but this only after an hour.  I truly wish I could describe this wine better, but simply put it would require a few years to see its evolution. An exquisite wine that is nearly indescribable with yes, the price point to match. 

Grape: Pinot Noir

Soil: Limestone Clay 

Viticulture: Organic