Laherte Freres Brut Nature Blanc de Blancs NV

Country: France

Region: Champagne

Type: Champagne

Grape: Chardonnay  

Laherte Freres is run by Aurélien Laherte, who has been at the helm of his family estate since 2005. Laherte Freres was founded in 1889 in the village of Chavot in the Coteaux Sud D'Epernay, and over the generations the vineyard holdings have slowly grown to 10.5 hectares, always with an emphasis on allowing full terroir expression in the wines through careful farming. Aurélien farms 7 hectares biodynamically and certified organic, with the other vineyards farmed uncertified organic or, at minimum, sustainably. Under Aurélien's leadership, Laherte Freres has begun to produce a series of single vineyard and single vintage cuvées vinified in Burgundy barrels without malolactic fermentation and bottled without fining or filtration.

This current release of Blanc de Blancs non-vintage Brut Nature comes from limestone soils in Chavot and Epernay. Farming is organic. Notes of pear, apple, a touch of almond, and a gently smoky top note. On the palate, the wine is bright, full-bodied, focused and beautifully balanced, with good acids, elegant mousse and impressive length on the finish. Aurélien Laherte picks his grapes at greater ripeness level for this bottling, which gives excellent depth of the fruit and buffers the acids in this non-dosé wine.