Laval Champagne Garennes Extra Brut

Laval Champagne Garennes Extra Brut is a characterful grower Champagne that puts Pinot Meunier center stage, with a vibrant supporting cast of Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. Crafted by the acclaimed Georges Laval estate, this cuvée showcases the energy and precision that have made the house a reference point for artisanal, low-intervention Champagne. Named after the lieu-dit “Les Garennes,” it offers a distinctive expression of Meunier from the village of Chambrecy, lifted by reserve wines from Cumières.

Tasting Notes
In the glass, Garennes Extra Brut shows a bright, luminous straw-gold hue with a fine, persistent bead that speaks to careful élevage and long lees aging. The nose is expressive yet refined, opening with ripe orchard fruits—pear, yellow apple, and mirabelle plum—layered with white flowers, citrus zest, and a touch of fresh brioche. Subtle notes of hazelnut, wet stone, and a hint of spice underline the wine’s low-dosage, terroir-driven style. On the palate, this Champagne is tense and energetic, with Meunier providing generous fruit and texture, while Chardonnay and Pinot Noir bring finesse, structure, and length. Expect flavors of crisp apple, stone fruit, and lemon cream, framed by a saline mineral backbone and a very dry, chiselled finish that reflects its Extra Brut dosage. The mousse is fine and creamy, giving a graceful mouthfeel without masking the wine’s precision. Enjoyable now for its vibrancy and purity, Garennes has the structure to develop further complexity over the next 3–5 years, gaining more autolytic and nutty notes with time in bottle.

Production
The Meunier for Garennes is sourced primarily from the village of Chambrecy, where cooler exposures and chalk- and clay-rich soils give wines with both ripeness and tension. To this, Georges Laval blends reserve wines from his home village of Cumières, a renowned premier cru site on chalk and limestone slopes along the Marne, adding depth and continuity of style. The vines are farmed organically, with meticulous work in the vineyard and low yields to ensure concentration and health in the fruit. Harvesting is done by hand at optimal ripeness, with strict sorting. Fermentations typically occur with indigenous yeasts, often in small oak barrels or neutral vessels, and the wines are handled with minimal intervention, low sulfur, and no unnecessary filtration. The base wines rest on their lees before tirage, and the long second aging on lees in bottle builds texture and complexity. The Extra Brut dosage keeps the final wine brisk and focused, allowing the terroir of Chambrecy and Cumières to shine through.

Food & Serving
This Extra Brut Champagne is an excellent match for refined yet flavorful dishes. Its tension and mineral drive make it ideal with oysters, scallops, or shrimp tartare, while the Meunier richness pairs beautifully with sushi, cured salmon, poultry terrines, and light pork or veal dishes. It also works well alongside soft cheeses such as Brie de Meaux or Chaource. Serve well chilled at about 8–10°C (46–50°F) to highlight its freshness and detail. A brief 10–15 minutes in a decanter or in the glass after opening can help the wine open aromatically, especially if it has been recently disgorged, but extended decanting is not necessary.

Producer
The Champagne house Georges Laval is a small, highly respected grower-producer based in the premier cru village of Cumières in the Vallée de la Marne. The domaine has been farmed organically for decades—well before it was fashionable in the region—and is known for its meticulous, low-yield viticulture and minimal-intervention approach in the cellar. With tiny holdings and a philosophy centered on terroir expression, Laval produces some of the most sought-after grower Champagnes, prized for their purity, precision, and intensity. The estate’s focus on individual parcels, indigenous yeasts, low dosage, and sustainable farming has placed it among the key names in the grower movement, making each cuvée, including Garennes, a distinct and authentic expression of its origin.

We deliver within 2 - 6 business days. You can choose whether it should be to a parcel shop or home delivery. Free delivery to both parcel shops and your front door. Our store partners primarily use GLS, DPD, UPS and DHL for deliveries. We cover deliveries to the majority of countries in Europe.