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184 Champagne Cumières 1er Cru AC Brut Nature
Georges LavalGrape:50% Chardonnay, 25% Pinot Noir, 25% Pinot Meunier (12.5% alc.)
Brilliantly located south facing hillsides (Cumières produces better quality champagne than most of the so called grand cru villages), organically certified vines, hard work and good touch are behind this excellent champagne. It is made entirely from the 2004 vintage (no reserve wine) and was initially aged for ten months in a mix of new to eight year 220 litre and 350 litre barrels. Disgorged without dosage in February 2008, it has notable weight and vinosity, is rich and yet at the same time fresh and mineral. For drinking now to 2014+.
Technical Information Winemaker: Vincent Laval Location: Cumières, north west of Epernay Size of
domaine:2½ hectares Grape: 50% Chardonnay, 25% Pinot Noir, 25% Pinot Meunier. 30 yrs old on average. 9,000 vines per hectare. Massale selection. Terroir: South-facing 18% hillside 100m above sea-level. Limestone clay soil, 50cm of soil overlying soft cretaceous chalks. Viticulture: Eco-cert, organically certified since 1970s. The soil is ploughed around the vines in autumn, spring and summer. Grass is allowed to grow in the soil between the rows of vines and cut back when it becomes too vigorous. User caterpillar, very light tractor to ensure the soil is not compacted. Manual harvest. Yields average 60 hectos per hectare. Vinification: Uses a traditional small 2000kg vertical champagne press. The juice is allowed to settle for 12 hours then transferred into a mix of new to 8 year old 220l and 350l barrels where it carries out its fermentation (4 weeks on average). Natural indigenous yeasts only, completes malolactic fermentation and racked once during a 10 month elevage. Unfined and unfiltered before bottling in August. 24 g/l of sguar for secondary fermentation. 32 months sur latte before disgorging by hand with no dosage. 7789 bts produced + 430 mags. Press: