Laherte Frères
Under the direction of Aurélien Laherte, Laherte Frères produces a stunning line-up of champagnes that highlight the diverse terroirs of the region. Aurélien takes a natural approach to viticulture and vinification and has quickly become one of the most dynamic and progressive vignerons in Champagne.
Extra Brut 'Ultradition'
A blend of 60% meunier, 30% chardonnay and 10% pinot noir, of which 40% is reserve wine. Fermented in foudre (20%), tank (20%) and barrel (60%) with regular lees stirring. Partial malolactic. Dosage is 4.5g/l.
The NV Extra Brut Ultradition is a gorgeous wine at its level, and also a terrific introduction to the Laherte Champagnes. Translucent and energetic, the Ultradition has a lot to offer. Pear, almond and dried flowers meld together as this creamy, ample Champagne shows off its distinctive personality. The flavors are brilliant and chiseled throughout.
Quick Facts
APPELLATION: Champagne AOP
VINTAGE: NV
STYLE: sparkling white
GRAPES: pinot meunier, chardonnay, pinot noir
FARMING: organic, biodynamic
FERMENTATION: oak, stainless steel
MATURATION: oak, bottle
FILTRATION: filtered
ALCOHOL: 12%
CASE SIZE: 6
Rosé de Meunier
100% pinot meunier containing 50% reserve wines. A blend of 30% macerated meunier, 60% white wine (immediately pressed meunier) and 10% still red meunier. Fermentation in vat, foudre and barrel with partial malolactic. Dosage 2g/l.
The old-vine meunier brings intensity to the bright raspberry and redcurrant aromas, and provides remarkable persistence on the palate. Fairly dry with a delicate mousse and gentle tannins, this is a rosé with plenty of personality and capacity to develop over the next several years.
Quick Facts
APPELLATION: Champagne AOP
VINTAGE: NV
STYLE: sparkling rosé
GRAPE: pinot meunier
FARMING: organic, biodynamic
FERMENTATION: oak, stainless steel
MATURATION: oak, bottle
FILTRATION: filtered
ALCOHOL: 12%
CASE SIZE: 6
Blanc de Blancs Brut Nature
A selection of chardonnay from parcels on soft chalky soils. Fermentation in small barrels and foudres with some lees stirring. Partial malolactic. 6 months on lees.
The NV Brut Nature Blanc de Blancs is stunning. Even better, it is one of the very finest Champagnes readers will find in its price range. Bright, sculpted and highly nuanced to the core, the Blanc de Blancs sizzles with tension. The purity of this Chardonnay fruit comes through beautifully. Citrus, white flowers, mint and white pepper add striking top notes.
Quick Facts
APPELLATION: Champagne AOP
VINTAGE: NV
STYLE: sparkling
GRAPE: chardonnay
FARMING: biodynamic
FERMENTATION: oak
MATURATION: oak, bottle
FILTRATION: filtered
ALCOHOL: 12%
CASE SIZE: 6
Blanc de Blancs Brut Nature
The juices come from the beautiful Côte des Blancs, on the Vertus and Voipreux terroirs. Located on the lower slopes, the chalk is flush with it. This cuvée is very open on the nose and palate, with notes of citrus fruits, minerals and wild flowers. It's an expressive, sharp champagne with plenty of energy to pass on to the lucky ones who get to taste it.
Quick Facts
APPELLATION: Champagne 1er cru
VINTAGE: NV
STYLE: sparkling
GRAPE: chardonnay
FARMING: biodynamic
FERMENTATION: oak
MATURATION: oak, bottle
FILTRATION: filtered
ALCOHOL: 12.5%
CASE SIZE: 6
Blanc de Blancs 'Les Grandes Crayères'
Fermentation is carried out in barrel, with no malolactic, and 6 months lees contact prior to secondary fermentation. Dosage is 4g/l. A singular and powerful expression of chardonnay with striking textural depth.
Quick Facts
APPELLATION: Champagne AOP
VINTAGE: 2015
STYLE: sparkling
GRAPE: chardonnay
FARMING: biodynamic
FERMENTATION: oak
MATURATION: oak, bottle
FILTRATION: filtered
ALCOHOL: 12%
CASE SIZE: 6
Blanc de Noirs Extra Brut ‘Les Longues Voyes’ 1er Cru
The pinot noir for this cuvée comes from parcels of clay and silt over limestone in the Montagne de Reims, about 30km from Chavot – hence the name ‘The Long Way’.
Fermentation in barrel harnesses the natural power of pinot noir, leading to an intense fruit and spice character. Aurelien has blocked malolactic here, as with all his vintage cuvées, in order to avoid flabbiness. 18 months extended lees ageing before secondary fermentation gives the wine an openness and immediacy that can be lacking in blanc de noirs. Soaring and powerful, with incredible purity of fruit and complexity.
Quick Facts
APPELLATION: Champagne AOP
VINTAGE: 2015
STYLE: sparkling
GRAPE: pinot noir
FARMING: biodynamic
FERMENTATION: oak
MATURATION: oak, bottle
FILTRATION: filtered
ALCOHOL: 12%
CASE SIZE: 6
Les Vignes d'Autrefois
A tribute to the generations that came before, Les Vignes d’Autrefois is made from pinot meunier from selection massale parcels in Chavot and Mancy that were planted from 1947 to 1953. Natural fermentation in used burgundy barrels, with 6 months on the lees, regular bâtonnage and no malolactic. Bottled after light filtration. Dosage 2-4g/l.
Powerful and intense from the start due to the age of the vines, with emphasis on floral and savoury tones rather than overt fruit. This champagne displays remarkable precision that is complemented by the low dosage.
Quick Facts
APPELLATION: Champagne AOP
VINTAGE: 2013
STYLE: sparkling white
GRAPE: pinot meunier
FARMING: organic, biodynamic
FERMENTATION: oak
MATURATION: oak, bottle
FILTRATION: filtered
ALCOHOL: 12%
CASE SIZE: 6
Rosé de Saignée Extra Brut ‘Les Beaudieres’
Cuvée Les Beaudiers from Laherte Frères is a rosé de saignée with intense, powerful aromas. This champagne is produced in very limited quantities, less than 4,000 bottles a year.The saignée technique involves leaving the grapes to macerate for several hours, to obtain a deep colour and highly expressive aromas. This cuvée owes its name to the locality of Les Beaudiers, halfway up the Chavot hillside, where the old vines used to make this champagne are located. These are plots of Pinot Meunier, planted in 1953, 1958 and 1965.
Quick Facts
APPELLATION: Champagne AOP
VINTAGE: NV
STYLE: sparkling rose
GRAPE: Pinot Meunier
FARMING: organic, biodynamic
FERMENTATION: oak
MATURATION: oak, bottle
FILTRATION: filtered
ALCOHOL: 12.5%
CASE SIZE: 6
'Les 7'
A blend of pinot meunier (18%), chardonnay (18%), pinot blanc (17%), pinot meslier (15%), pinot noir (14%), fromenteau (10%) and arbanne (8%). From a plot planted in 2003 by Aurélien’s father, Thierry, which is worked with a horse and plough. The intention was to create a wine that represented the heritage of Champagne, while also learning about the character of the individual varieties - the challenge is to pick each variety when it has reached the balance of maturity and acidity that Laherte seek for all their wines. Fermentation is carried out in used burgundy barrels, with no malolactic. Aged for 6 months with regular lees stirring before bottling with light filtration. The blend is 50% of the current vintage and 50% reserve wines from a solera that contains each vintage since the first in 2005. Disgorgement is by hand, with a dosage of 4g/l.
Quick Facts
APPELLATION: Champagne AOP
VINTAGE: NV
STYLE: sparkling
GRAPES: pinot meunier, chardonnay, pinot blanc, pinot meslier, pinot noir, fromenteau, arbanne
FARMING: organic, biodynamic
FERMENTATION: oak
MATURATION: oak, bottle
FILTRATION: filtered
ALCOHOL: 12%
CASE SIZE: 6
‘Petit Meslier’
The Champagne Extra Brut Petit Meslier by Laherte Frères is a rare and refined wine expression from Chavot, in the heart of Champagne. Produced entirely from the Petit Meslier grape variety, known for its singularity and refinement. The vineyard is cultivated on clayey-loamy soils which cover a layer of soft chalk which contributes to giving rise to the careful blend of different harvests, with approximately 40% reserve wines. This Champagne reflects the winery's commitment to respecting nature and the application of ecological methods.
This Champagne has a straw yellow color, illuminated by a fine and persistent perlage. On the nose, aromas of white flowers and citrus fruits open up, enriched by vegetal notes and bread crust, which invite tasting. In the mouth, it reveals a dominant freshness, with a marked minerality and nuances of citrus and exotic fruit.
Quick Facts
APPELLATION: Champagne AOP
VINTAGE: NV
STYLE: sparkling
GRAPES: Petit Meslier
FARMING: organic, biodynamic
FERMENTATION: oak
MATURATION: oak, bottle
FILTRATION: filtered
ALCOHOL: 12.5%
CASE SIZE: 6
‘Le Mont Aigu’
This exceptional Blanc de Blancs was produced in a strictly limited edition of just 500 bottles from the 2015 vintage. Its origins lie on the famous Mont Aigu, an iconic hill in the Chouilly terroir, just five minutes from the Laherte family winery. The Grand Cru Chouilly is a legendary site known for its characterful Chardonnays—rich in flavor, with powerful aromas and a typical saline tension that characterizes the Côte des Blancs.
Quick Facts
APPELLATION: Champagne AOP
VINTAGE: NV
STYLE: sparkling
GRAPES: chardonnay 
FARMING: organic, biodynamic
FERMENTATION: oak
MATURATION: oak, bottle
FILTRATION: filtered
ALCOHOL: 12.5%
CASE SIZE: 6
‘Les Rouges Maisons’
Champagne Les Rouges Maisons de Laherte Frères is a cuvée born from long and careful work in the vineyards and in the cellar, with the objective of highlighting the richness and complexity of Pinot Noir with extreme finesse. The grapes come from plots located in the Chavot terroir, characterized by deep soils with a significant presence of clay, flint and schist, on a chalky subsoil. The vines, planted in 1983, benefit from careful agronomic management that respects nature, influenced by ecological methods.
In the glass, it expresses itself with great elegance, revealing the purity of Pinot Noir. On the nose, it offers a harmonious combination of fruity and mineral notes, with nuances of red fruits, delicate spices, and a subtle salinity. On the palate, it is full-bodied and structured, with a perfect balance between freshness and depth, accompanied by a persistent and refined finish.
Quick Facts
APPELLATION: Champagne AOP
VINTAGE: 2018
STYLE: sparkling
GRAPES: Pinot Noir 
FARMING: organic, biodynamic
FERMENTATION: oak
MATURATION: oak, bottle
FILTRATION: filtered
ALCOHOL: 12.5%
CASE SIZE: 6
Some more about..
Laherte Frères
Under the direction of Aurélien Laherte, Laherte Frères produces a stunning line-up of champagnes that highlight the diverse terroirs of the region. Aurélien takes a natural approach to viticulture and vinification and has quickly become one of the most dynamic and progressive vignerons in Champagne.
Laherte Frères was founded in 1889 in Chavot in the Côteaux Sud d’Epernay, an interesting sub-region sandwiched between the Côtes des Blancs and the Vallée de la Marne that combines the soils typical of both regions. The focus of the estate is on pinot meunier, accented with pinot noir and chardonnay. Grapes are sourced from 11 hectares of vines over a whopping 75 different parcels, all worked by Laherte family members (meaning they must be classified as a négociant house despite their grower credentials). 7 hectares are farmed biodynamically, with the remainder worked organically without certification, or at the very least lutte raisonée.
In the cellar, indigenous yeasts are used to start fermentations. All cuvées are at least partly fermented in used oak to enhance their depth and complexity. Malolactic conversion is blocked for some cuvées and only partially completed for others. The wines are bottled unfined and lightly filtered and they are finished with low dosages to avoid masking the individuality of each terroir.