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Laherte Freres, Champagne Empreintes Extra Brut, 2018

$111.99

PREORDER - ARRIVES LATE NOVEMBER 2024

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LIMITED QUANTITES

Laherte Frères’ Champagne “Empreintes” Extra Brut 2018 is a refined and expressive bottle that captures the nuanced character of the Coteaux Sud d’Épernay terroir. This grower Champagne, crafted by the Laherte family with a long-standing commitment to biodynamic practices, features a balanced blend that highlights Chardonnay and Pinot Noir from old vines. These vines, deeply rooted in chalky clay-limestone soils, imbue the wine with a unique minerality and precision. The Extra Brut style, achieved with minimal dosage, allows the pure fruit and terroir-driven complexity to shine, offering a crisp and elegant profile.

On the nose, this vintage offers an enticing mix of white flowers, citrus peel, and green apple, with a subtle hint of almond and chalk. The palate is vibrant, with a taut acidity balanced by a creamy, persistent mousse, revealing flavors of lemon zest, ripe stone fruit, and a touch of toasted brioche. The wine’s minerality comes through on the finish, leaving a refreshing, lingering impression that is both mouthwatering and complex.

Ideal for pairing with refined dishes, this Champagne complements oysters, scallops, or sushi beautifully, enhancing their delicate flavors with its freshness and finesse. The 2018 vintage, marked by balanced ripeness and clarity, provides a structured yet lively Champagne that stands out both as an aperitif and as a sophisticated accompaniment to food.

More about this wine

Grapes | 50% Chardonnay, 50% Pinot Noir

Vineyards | Chardonnay, 1/3 of which is Chardonnay Muscatel, from the Chavot parcel of “Les Chemins d’Epernay” planted in 1957; Pinot Noir from Chavot parcel of “Les Rouge Maisons” planted in 1983.

Vinification | Primary fermentation in neutral barrels from Burgundy; aged 6 months with regular lees stirring; no malo, minimum of 5 years aging in bottle sur lattes, second fermentation under cork. 2 gr/l dosage.

Disgorgement: November 2023

Aurélien Laherte believes Champagne should be for everyone. We agree.

Along with childhood best friend and fellow rising star, Raphaël Bérèche, they formed Terre de Vins, a down to earth trade organization. They bring together like-minded growers for a yearly tasting of vin clair (still wine, pre-bubbles) and finished Champagne to showcase their progressive wines.

Aurélien makes wines of power and whimsy, decadence and tension. Maybe it is because of his biodynamic approach, maybe it was his training with Antoine Sélosse or maybe he is simply one of the best vignerons in Champagne. No matter the reason, take advantage of this newsletter only pricing to experience it for yourself.

All of his wines are aged in neutral barrels, do not go through malolactic fermentation and have just enough dosage to balance the wine and showcase the terroir.

Seventh generation winegrower Aurélien Laherte is part of a dynamic, young generation making waves in Champagne and producing a fine array of terroir-driven Champagnes using a natural approach to viticulture and winemaking. Since taking the helm of his family’s estate in 2005, Aurelien has been a devoted practitioner of organic and biodynamic viticulture, striving to produce a lineup of blended and single-vineyard Champagnes that deeply expresses the identities of his unique terroirs. The vibrant, energetic and racy profile of Laherte Frères Champagnes has earned Aurélien a reputations as a rising star in the region.

Champagne

Champagne boasts some of the world’s greatest luxury brands with Krug, Cristal and, of course, Dom Perignon. But it’s also home to hundreds of small dynamic producers—farmers who grow their own grapes (often organically) and make (often with natural methods) tiny amounts of pure and absolutely delicious wine that reflect the individual personalities of their villages and terroirs. Toast with these wines, for sure. But also treat them like the great wines they are: taste, drink, explore!

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