Georges Laval Les Longues Violes Brut Nature 2012

96/100 vinous

"The 2012 Brut Nature Les Longues Violes is one of the most distinctive wines in Champagne. Weightless and perfumed in the glass, the Longues Violes possesses unreal finesse and stunning beauty. Floral, citrus and orchard fruit notes are all finely sketched in this a Champagne that sizzles with tension. This is a fabulous showing. Les Longues Violes is 90% Pinot Noir planted in 1964 and 1974 and 10% Meunier planted in 1947."
(Antonio Galloni, vinous.com)

96/100 vinous

"The 2012 Brut Nature Les Longues Violes is Vincent Laval’s latest creation. Even more impressive than it was last year, the Longues Violes possesses remarkable intensity and resonance in all of its dimensions. In the glass, the Longues Violes is ample and creamy, as one might expect from a Pinot Champagne, and yet it also has remarkable freshness, with hints of graphite-infused minerality that are laced throughout the translucent, magnificently pure finish. Les Longues Violes is 90% Pinot Noir planted in1964 and 1974 and 10% Meunier planted in 1947. It is a magnificent Champagne by any measure.
The 2012 is expected to retail for 600 euros a bottle, which, needless to say, is very expensive. Vincent Laval told me Les Longues Violes has never been treated with herbicides, and that there are only two other domaines in Champagne like his, where that is the case. I don’t have the historical perspective to know whether that is fully accurate or not. I also believe that the market ultimately sets prices for wines. To be sure, no one wants to earn less than they think they are worth, so far be it from me to begrudge any winemaker for their choices on pricing. Even so, at this level, the traditional Laval consumer will be almost certainly be priced out. Who is actually going to buy the 2012 Longues Violes (and other ultra-expensive domaine bottlings), and is this the beginning of grower Champagnes that are totally out of reach for the consumer? We shall see…Disgorged November 13, 2017."
(Antonio Galloni, vinous.com)

Les Longues Violes bezeichnet Vincent Laval selbst als mythische Parzelle, die bereits 1461 das erste Mal erwähnt wurde. Les Longues Violes befindet sich am Hang leicht unterhalb von Les Hautes Chèvres, umfasst nicht einmal das Drittel eines Hektars und hat laut Laval das beste Terroir der gesamten Gegend. 1947 wurde dort eine sélection massale von Meunier gepflanzt, 1964 und 1984 jeweils eine sélection massale von Pinot Noir. Der Boden und die Pflanzen haben niemals chemische Mittel gesehen. Der 2012er-Jahrgang ist der erste, den Vincent separat von diesem raren Champagner vinifiziert hat. Spontan vergoren und über ein Jahr im Holz ausgebaut, sind am 13. November 2017 nach vier Jahren die ersten 480 Flaschen degorgiert worden. Jede Flasche wurde von Hand beschriftet und in einer Holzkiste verpackt.