Georges Laval Les Hautes Chèvres, Champagne

Benoît Lahaye crafts Les Hautes Chèvres from an old-vine Pinot Noir parcel in Cumières, planted in the 1940s. The vineyard lies on steep, south-facing slopes with thin chalk soils that naturally limit yields and concentrate fruit. Farming is biodynamic, with meticulous attention to soil vitality and vine balance, principles that define all Georges Laval wines. Fermentation takes place with native yeasts in oak barrels, followed by long maturation on lees before bottling without dosage.

Each release reflects both site and season, delivering depth without excess. The nose typically opens with red apple, cherry kernel and dried herbs, leading into a palate of taut citrus and mineral drive. Gentle oxidative tones from barrel ageing add shape and savoury length. Les Hautes Chèvres shows how pinot noir from a single lieu-dit, handled with precision rather than force, can yield Champagne of quiet intensity and enduring finesse.