„Les Chênes“ Cumières Premier Cru Brut Nature 2019 1500ml Magnum

Wine Description for „Les Chênes“ Cumières Premier Cru Brut Nature 2019 1500ml Magnum by Georges Laval

Colour & Appearance

Pale platinum with fine, persistently rising mousse – a visual promise of the elegance to follow.

Nose

This Champagne is a revelation: scattered chalk and limestone form the mineral foundation, above which hover mint, verbena and a spectrum of citrus fruits – from grapefruit zest to lime. The aromatics are insistent, forceful, positively electrifying in their freshness and energy.

Palate

Here the true nature of this extraordinary Champagne reveals itself: immense power meets pulsating minerality, reminiscent of chalk soil dissolved in lemon juice. The Brut Nature dosage underscores the uncompromisingly dry, almost austere character – this is no obliging aperitif Champagne, but a serious, winy Blanc de Blancs with the complexity of a Burgundian Grand Cru. Still closed in its youth, it demands patience or generous decanting.

Finish

Long, precise and carried by vibrant acidity that refreshes the palate and leaves you wanting more.

Terroir & Origin

The vineyard site Les Chênes in eastern Cumières, not far from the Abbey of Hautvillers, has been farmed organically and biodynamically since 1971. Optimal south-facing exposure on a mid-slope position, pure chalk limestone beneath a thin layer of clay and silt – a terroir that gives Chardonnay its characteristic minerality.

Grape Variety & Vinification

Pure Chardonnay, aged eight months in used barrels, matured three years sur lattes. Disgorged on 25 April 2023 with 0 g/L dosage. The 2019 vintage was decimated by late frost and hail – only 30 magnums were produced.

Food Pairing Suggestions

Smoked trout in buttermilk-lemon broth with chervil, steamed char with cedrat citrus and almonds or tagliatelle with wild fennel, mussels and sea urchin – dishes that echo the maritime minerality and citrus freshness of the Champagne.

Special Characteristics

A Champagne for connoisseurs and the patient. Drinking well from 2028 onwards, but already impressive after decanting. The magnum format promises even slower, more harmonious development.