George Laval Les Chenes

We have all heard of the story of David and Goliath, an unusual story from the Bible that tells of the victory of the small against the big and reminds us that even if everything is against us, there is always a chance we might come out on top. In Champagne, a region where large and opulent houses stand out, the Georges Laval small family estate, with only 3 hectares, has masterfully managed to make a name for itself. In the 1990s, George Laval was a pioneer in the production of organic champagnes, and the Domaine has become known for its unique and extremely secretive sparkling wines. Today, his son Vincent respects the family’s traditional methods and, unimpressed by the big production houses, works hard to keep creating authentic terroir wines.

This is clear to see in George Laval Les Chenes, a sparkling Chardonnay from a superb terroir of the same name with clay-limestone soil. Old vines where compost, modifications, herbicides and pesticides are prohibited, opting instead to only use organic products and biodynamic treatments. Once the grapes reach the winery, the ones that have reached full maturity are selected to begin fermentation and aging in oak barrels for 8 months. The wine then undergoes a second fermentation in the bottle and is aged on the lees for 3 years before disgorgement.

Intent on expressing itself as it is, George Laval Les Chenes not only manages to showcase the quintessence of an original terroir, but also emerges victorious from a huge and aggressive competition. However, with a very limited production that only the fastest can enjoy.