2016 Georges Laval ‘Les Longues Violes’ Brut Nature, Champagne, France

VincentLavals third single vineyard bottling, les Longues Violes, is made almost entirely from pinot noir vines planted in 1964. However, there is a small percentage of pinot meunier also included in this old vine blend, with those vines having been planted in 1947. This is his smallest production cuve and has been stunning since its first vintage of 2012. The new release is from the 2016 vintage and is another masterpiece, offering up a vibrant and beautifully refined bouquet of 120 white peach, fresh apricot, passion fruit, complex, chalky soil tones, ptissire and a topnote of discretely musky floral tones. On the palate the wine is pure, full-bodied, focused and complex, with stunning depth at the core, great backend mineral drive, supremely elegant mousse and a very, very long, seamlessly balanced and vibrant finish. Pure magic.