“Les Longues Violes” Cumières Premier Cru Brut Nature 2015

Wine Description for “Les Longues Violes” Cumières Premier Cru Brut Nature 2015 by Georges Laval

Character

Georges Laval is regarded as one of the quiet yet pioneering addresses in Champagne – a winemaker who, long before the natural wine boom, uncompromisingly committed to biodynamic viticulture and minimal intervention in the cellar. The “Les Longues Violes” is a single-vineyard Champagne from the Premier Cru village of Cumières, crafted as a Brut Nature without any dosage. This means: no added sugar, no disguise – only what the vine, soil and vintage deliver. A Champagne for drinkers who value authenticity over comfort.

Terroir & Origin

Cumières lies on the southern bank of the Marne, west of Épernay, and counts among the warmer vineyard sites of Champagne. The slopes with their chalky-clay soils and a high proportion of chalk lend the wines a structural depth that is indispensable for a Brut Nature. The vintage 2015 was exceptionally warm and sunny in Champagne – a year that produced ripe, concentrated base wines with natural fullness and substance, without the nervous acidity typical of cooler years. For a dosage-free Champagne, this provides a solid, indeed virtually ideal foundation.

Grape Variety & Vinification

The blend of Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier reflects the traditional soul of Cumières. Both varieties bring body, red fruit and a certain earthiness – qualities that become particularly pronounced in a Brut Nature without corrective dosage. Laval works with spontaneous fermentation, eschews filtration and relies on gentle, artisanal vinification that allows the character of the place to speak. The wine matures on its lees, developing that creamy texture and depth which balances its austerity.

Food Pairing Suggestions

The saline minerality and the dry, unvarnished structure of this Champagne make it an ideal table companion. Recommended with oysters and raw shellfish, with beef tartare or aged Comté. Also with roasted lamb leg with herbs – an unusual but rewarding combination that brings out the depth of the Pinot Noir.