GEORGES LAVAL Cumieres 1er Cru Brut Nature, Champagne

Bright yellow hue flecked with gold. Its lively sparkle forms beautiful, even streams of bubbles. Aromas of citrus fruit (lemon) and fresh, zesty notes combined with soft tones of grilled hazelnuts and heady acacia flowers. After aeration, the wine develops hints of fresh wood, subtle spices (pepper, cardamom), cocoa beans, and honey nougat which add depth. The palate is simultaneously smooth, rounded and fresh. The attack is juicy, direct, concentrated and pure, yet exceptionally soft and gives way to a saline freshness endowing it with remarkable mineral precision and discreet elegance. The result is a delicate, fluid, supple, coherent and disconcertingly honest tasting experience! Louis Roederer Brut Vintage 2012, 70% Pinot noir and 30% Chardonnay, a lower 8% of which is wine matured in oak. As noted by the Cellar master: "The perfect product from the Louis Roederer terroir, in which finesse, purity, precision, and harmony highlight the qualities of a great vineyard." Jean-Baptiste Lecaillon. The subtle bouquet, on the first nose, opens out gradually to reveal spring-like notes of fresh citrus fruit (lemon tree rather than lemon fruit) combined with warm, almost smoky, mineral aromas, followed by notes of lightly toasted almonds, one of the signs of the ageing in oak foudres. Jean-Baptiste Lecaillon Today Louis Roederer remains one of the very few remaining family owned Houses in Champagne with 7th generation Frederic Rouzaud at the helm. From the 100 hectares acquired in 1850 by Louis Roederer, the Domaine today extends over 240 hectares averaging 98% on the official Echelle classification. All vineyard acquisitions follow Louis Roedererâs strict 70% policy â that is ownership of at least 70% of the total production. All Louis Roederer Cuvees are Estate grown with the exception of Brut Premier which is 60% estate fruit and 40% fruit sourced from long-term contracted growers. Louis Roederer farm 65 Ha of their Domaine vineyards under a biodynamic and organic regime as part of what Chef de Cave Jean-Baptiste Lécaillon says is a work in progress. In 2012 Louis Roederer became the largest biodynamic producer in Champagne.

Elegant, with colour changing naturally from a pretty raspberry hue to salmon-pink. A precise nose of extraordinary freshness and a wide range of red fruits: raspberry, redcurrant, strawberry, black cherry. A fresh and sharp attack for this supple and rounded wine. On the palate, it offers the sensation of plunging into a basket of freshly picked red berries. Pinot Noir from 10 different crus located mainly in the South and North areas of the Montagne de Reims including the famous Côte de Bouzy. Notably from the finest crus of Ambonnay, Bouzy, Louvois and Tours-sur-Marne. The grapes from carefully selected plots are sorted and destemmed before vatting. The maceration lasting from 48h to 72h depending on the harvest helps the extraction of the colour and the development of the full aromatic richness of the Pinot Noir, with 5 years minimum ageing.