La Fete: Lunch w/Vincent Laval
Frenchette
Tasted November 12, 2021 by MC2 Wines with 81 views
Introduction
Before COVID I would say I was a bubbles drinker, but that perhaps I had never really put the same effort into the category as I have with reds or even with sweets. During COVID, found it was the wine that I most wanted to drink (perhaps because it's less terrible to drink bubbles at 9 am). Laval is one of those champagnes that I'd had before, but really started understanding more about during that time. This was a real treat - lovely set of tablemates and Vincent is very charming.
Flight 1 - Amuse (1 note)
Brouillade
soft scrambled eggs, matsutake mushroom
White - Sparkling
2016 Georges Laval Champagne Premier Cru Brut Nature Cumières
France, Champagne, Champagne Premier Cru
For the base wine this is very lovely and tart and maybe a bit spicy and rounder. Almost reminds me of the flavor of an apricot but without that heavier texture. Very bright. It is the low dosage style that is so popular among the growers but somehow there seems to be more heft and complexity to the wine.
Flight 2 - Fruits de Mer (3 notes)
Wild Maine Belon
beurre d'oursin
Couteaux Casino
fennel, leeks, breadcrumbs
Langoustine
lardo
White - Sparkling
2004 Georges Laval Champagne Premier Cru Brut Nature Les Chênes
France, Champagne, Champagne Premier Cru
Lemon, bright and a bit less bubbles. This was a kindof polarizing wine for the table and we all seemed to get something a bit different. For some this was all acid and no fruit. For me this was fruit but didn't have the same level of acid. This was a bit more evolved than I would have expected it to be for an '04. Just somehow a bit quieter than some of the other wines.
Flight 3 - Hors d'Oeuvres (2 notes)
Petit Sale
pork jarret, saucisson a l'ail, mackerel, sorana beans
White - Sparkling
2008 Georges Laval Champagne Premier Cru Les Hautes Chevres
France, Champagne, Champagne Premier Cru
Interestingly enough while this is listed as Pinot Meunier (because all of the vintages post 2009 were), it's actually Pinot Noir (and was for all vintages before 2009). One of my favorites of the tasting. It's nutty and fresh and there's this interesting flavor that seems to be some combination of granite and rosemary and I'm not totally sure what but very beguiling.
Flight 4 - Entrees (2 notes)
Poule au Pot
poilarde ballotine, foie gras, truffle root vegetables
Closing
Perhaps my favorite flight was the '08 vs. the '16 - one with old Pinot Noir vines and the other with old Pinot Meunier both from the same plot. The Pinot Noir sadly needed to be replanted after that, but that wine was really special. The '05 was also a surprise for me. Given the zero dosage will be interesting to see how these wines age, but we have some laying down to check in.
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