Georges Laval's Les Hautes Chèvres 2021 vintage is an absolute rarity, the pinnacle of expression for Pinot Meunier. Vincent Laval, cult winemaker from Cumières and pioneer of organic farming (certified since 1971), has created a Blanc de Noirs from a single vineyard with incredible depth. Made from old vines in the Premier Cru terroir of Cumières, this 2021 vintage, marked by freshness and tension, delivers an uncompromising wine: racy, salty, and crystal clear. It is an artisanal champagne, tailor-made for the table and for emotion, produced in limited quantities.
The production of the Les Hautes Chèvres 2021 cuvée
This cuvée is a Blanc de Noirs (100% Pinot Meunier). It comes from the historic "Les Hautes Chèvres" vineyard, located halfway up the hillside in the Cumières terroir. The venerable age of the vines (old vines) allows, even in a difficult year like 2021, to obtain a natural aromatic concentration and a unique sap that transcends the grape variety.
Viticulture
The estate has been practicing demanding organic viticulture for over 50 years. The soils are plowed, and no synthetic chemicals are used. This approach allows the roots to plunge deep into the chalk, giving the wine that saline minerality so characteristic of the Laval style.
Winemaking
Vinification is minimalist and traditional. Fermentation takes place in oak barrels using indigenous yeasts from the terroir. The wine undergoes no fining or filtration, and the use of sulfur is drastically reduced (very low). True to the quest for purity, the wine is bottled "Brut Nature," meaning without dosage (0 g/L), allowing the terroir to express itself fully.
The 2021 vintage
2021 is a "classic" and cool year in Champagne, marked by significant climatic challenges. At Georges Laval, rigorous work in the vineyard resulted in a healthy, ripe Meunier harvest with vibrant acidity. This vintage gives the wine remarkable energy and tension, more "airy" than the previous sunny vintages (2018, 2019, 2020).
Tasting notes
Color
The color is a pale, crystalline gold with slightly silvery highlights typical of the vintage. The effervescence is very fine and dynamic.
Nose
The nose is complex, far from the standard simple Meunier. It opens with notes of fresh pear, citrus (kumquat), and white flowers, supported by a touch of sweet spices and a very subtle woody patina.
Palate
On the palate, the attack is sharp and straightforward. The texture is dense and fleshy but not heavy, carried by an intense saline minerality. There are flavors of crisp orchard fruits. The finish is endless, chalky, and mouthwatering, marking a very great terroir wine.
Food pairing suggestions
- Scallop carpaccio
- Sea bream sashimi
- Hot oysters
- Pan-fried sweetbreads
- Bresse poultry with cream
- Truffled white pudding
- Comté aged 24 months
- Langres (for the local region)
- Aged Parmesan
Storage and serving recommendations
How should this champagne be stored?
This is a great wine for aging. Store it horizontally, in a dark, cool place. Although delicious now with its youthful tension, it will gain complexity (notes of honey, wax, and dried fruit) over 10 years or more.
Serving advice
Serve this champagne at around 10 to 12°C, not too cold, so as not to "break" its complexity. Aeration is beneficial: don't hesitate to leave it in the glass for a few minutes, or even decant it gently if you are tasting it in its youth.
Anecdote about this cuvée
The "Les Hautes Chèvres" plot is legendary in Champagne. It was home to Meunier vines planted between 1930 and 1971. Vincent Laval is one of the few winemakers to have demonstrated that Pinot Meunier, often considered a simple blending grape, can produce wines with a nobility and aging potential equal to the greatest Chardonnays or Pinot Noirs.
