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Champagne Laherte Frères
www.champagne-laherte.com
Country of Origin: France
Location: Chavot, Champagne
People: Christian, Thierry, & Aurélien Laherte, Owners | Aurélien Laherte, Winemaker


Founded in 1889 by Jean-Baptiste Laherte, this family-run estate has been in the Lahertes’ hands for six generations. Today it is run by the Christian and Thierry Laherte (brothers) and Thierry’s son Auriélien. Their 10-hectare estate, 75 parcels, are situated in 3 distinct areas: the southern slopes of Épernay, the Côte des Blancs, and the Marne Valley. 

The family highly prizes their vines, many of which have undergone 70 harvests. They work as naturally as possible with biodynamic and sustainable practices: plant infusions to improve natural defense systems, high foliage so that the photosynthesis ensures a nice maturity, and planning the pruning work and treatments on favorable days in order to strengthen the vine stocks. They feel that it is absolutely essential to manage the soil with great care in order to preserve its balance. 

The grapes are pressed at the estate in the village of Chavot, with two 4,000-kilo traditional presses. Their techniques aim to preserve as much of the natural qualities of the grapes as possible. With that in mind, they barrel by gravity, allow for slow and spontaneous fermentation with natural yeasts, stir the lees depending on the characteristics of the wine, and use a low and precise dosage. They focus on single-parcel fermentation so that they can purely transmit the characteristics of the soil and place. They carefully blend to create a unique personality to each wine they produce. The result is wine that truly reflects the nuance of its place and time.

Wine Advocate 11/2013
"Thierry and Christian Laherte represent the second of seven generations of Champagne-growing Lahertes to domaine-bottle, though theirs is among the significant and increasing number of Champagne establishments that – despite personally farming all of the vines from which they source – are officially a “négociant-manipulant,” in this instance because their business is structured for each of the principle family members to officially sell the fruit from his or her tiny acreage to Laherte Frères. And those parcels are disparate, numbering 75 spread over ten villages, even though the total Laherte acreage is just 25. Half of these vineyards are farmed biodynamically – notably those most easily accessible from the Lahertes’ home base of Chavot-Courcourt (immediately south of Epernay), a sector that brings considerable chalk to bear on Marne clay. Lahertes have done some experimentation with ungrafted vines and (as a relevant tasting note will testify) with Champagne’s “forgotten” cépages, as well as with a solera-style blend. Most of their wines see barrel;; whether they “do malo” is determined case-by-case."

Media Links
ChampagneNet.com: Laherte Frères
Items
Champagne Laherte Frères NV 'Les 7' Extra Brut, Champagne AOC Net Price Reviews —
Champagne Laherte Frères NV 'Ultradition' Blanc de Blancs, Champagne AOC Net Price — —
Champagne Laherte Frères NV 'Ultradition' Grand Brut, Champagne AOC Net Price Reviews —
Champagne Laherte Frères NV 'Ultradition' Rose, Champagne AOC Net Price Reviews —
Reviews
Champagne Laherte Frères NV 'Les 7' Extra Brut, Champagne AOC
Rating: 92

Laherte’s NV Extra Brut Les 7 Disg. 1/2012 – latest 2 rendition of a cuvée he formerly labeled “Les Clos” – is unusual in two respects: first, it’s a solera dating to the first harvest of these young vines in 2005; secondly, the vines in question represent a field-blend consisting of 18% Chardonnay, 18% Meunier, 17% Pinot Blanc, 15% Petit Meslier, 14% Pinot (Noir), 10% Fromenteau (a.k.a. Pinot Gris), and 8% Arbanne. Lemon and grapefruit, cucumber and celery root make for a bright, crunchy, metaphorically cooling persona. When mingled with oyster liquor, this makes for a mouthwateringly savory, mineral-rich impression that really carries the energetic, brightly bursting finish to extreme lengths. If you don’t feel as though you have been profoundly refreshed and your salivary glands tapped out after a couple of glasses of this, then I don’t know what libation could have that effect. While I can’t speak from any direct experience, my hunch is that this will be worth following for at least half a dozen years.

- The Wine Advocate (11/1/2013)

Champagne Laherte Frères NV 'Les 7' Extra Brut, Champagne AOC
Rating: 93

As readers may recall from previous reviews of this bottling, which used to be called “Les Clos” after the vineyard it hails from, the Laherte Frères “Les 7” is comprised of a blend of all seven permitted grape varieties in Champagne: Fromenteau, Arbanne, Pinot Noir, Pinot Meunier, Chardonnay, Pinot Blanc and Petit Meslier. All the grapes are picked and vinified together, with a significant percentage barrel fermented, and the wine is finished as an Extra Brut. The current release is stunning, offering up a beautifully complex and youthful nose of white peach, lemon, acacia blossoms, bread dough, a lovely base of soil, citrus peel and a hint of oak. On the palate the wine is deep, full-bodied, complex and beautifully balanced, with a rock solid core, very refined mousse, excellent focus and grip and a very long, poised and classy finish that shows a bit of roundness from the wood on the backend. Superb wine. 2013-2030.

- John Gilman View from the Cellar (9/1/2013)

Champagne Laherte Frères NV 'Les 7' Extra Brut, Champagne AOC
Rating: **

The multi-varietal wine formerly known as Les Clos is now composed of five different vintages (2005 to 2009), blended together in a perpetual cuvée, with the base vintage of 2009 accounting for two-thirds of the total. It's complex and harmonious, its succulent depth of fruit pinned down by bright, lively acidity. While the alpine, herbaceous notes of arbanne and petit meslier are present, they're inseparably intertwined into the whole, without feeling aggressive or out of place. This is perfectly balanced at 4 g/l of dosage, and a year after its disgorgement in January of 2012, it's expressive and energetic, showing a great deal of personality.

- Peter Liem's ChampagneGuide.net (2/1/2013)

Champagne Laherte Frères NV 'Ultradition' Grand Brut, Champagne AOC
Rating: 92

The Laherte NV Brut Ultradition Disg. 10/2012 – 60% Meunier; 30% Chardonnay; 10% Pinot –is exuberantly dominated by juicy and vivacious lime, peach, grapefruit, and Persian as well as honeydew melons, their succulent fruit mingled on a polished palate with nut oils and shitake, as well as suffused with a saliva-drawing sweet-saline, iodine-rich savor of crab and lobster shell reduction that makes for a compelling finish. Yes, this is certainly a capital “U” umami-rich wine! I’m astounded to realize – given its sense of energy and vivacity – that it is based on vintage 2009. Whatever be “ultradition,” it’s an approach I can only heartily commend to other growers! (Of course, you might not be able to make anything like this if you lack that “secret ingredient,” good Meunier;? and scrolling down to my review of Lahertes’ “Les 7” might raise suspicions of a connection between their greatest successes – as I perceive them –and the prominence of unjustly neglected cépages!)

- The Wine Advocate (11/1/2013)

Champagne Laherte Frères NV 'Ultradition' Grand Brut, Champagne AOC
Rating: 92

Ultradition is the new name for the non-vintage cuvées of Brut and Brut Rosé from Laherte Frères, and though the name has changed, the quality remains as high as ever as this fine producer in the Vallée de la Marne. The blend is the same as it has been for this bottling over the last several years- sixty percent Pinot Meunier, thirty percent chardonnay and ten percent Pinot Noir, and like all of the Laherte Frères bottlings of late, more and more of the vins clairs are being barrel fermented for this wine. The new release is absolutely lovely, offering up a complex nose of lemon, apple, bread dough, stony minerality, citrus zest and a topnote of white flowers (from the Pinot Meunier?). On the palate the wine is pure, full-bodied, crisp and complex, with lovely mid-palate depth, elegant mousse and superb length and grip on the crisp and focused finish. This is one high class bottle of non-vintage Brut! 2013-2025.

- John Gilman View from the Cellar (9/1/2013)

Champagne Laherte Frères NV 'Ultradition' Grand Brut, Champagne AOC
Rating: *

Made of 60 percent meunier, 30 percent chardonnay and ten percent pinot noir, this is packed with pungent aromas of strawberry, redcurrant and red apple. True to its origins in the Coteaux Sud d'Epernay and the Vallée de la Marne, it's relatively rich in body, marked by a supple, velvety texture, and it finishes with fine length and plenty of aroma.

- Peter Liem's ChampagneGuide.net (2/1/2013)

Champagne Laherte Frères NV 'Ultradition' Grand Brut, Champagne AOC
Rating: 90

Pale yellow. Subdued but precise aromas of lemon pith, pear and yellow plum, with a toasty overtone. Pliant, gently spicy orchard fruit flavors show good depth and focus, picking up bitter herb and mineral nuances with air. Shows good clarity and grip on the firm, linear and persistent finish. Very nicely balanced Champagne that possesses both depth and vivacity.

- International Wine Cellar (12/1/2012)

Champagne Laherte Frères NV 'Ultradition' Grand Brut, Champagne AOC
Rating: 90

The NV Brut Tradition is a beautifully precise, chiseled wine. Citrus, flowers and minerals are woven together in fabric of unusual elegance. This mid-weight, focused Champagne offers terrific energy all the way through to the finessed finish. It is a lovely effort. No disgorgement date provided. Anticipated maturity: 2009-2014.

- The Wine Advocate (10/1/2009)

Champagne Laherte Frères NV 'Ultradition' Rose, Champagne AOC
Rating: 89+

The new release of Laherte Frères “Ultradition” non-vintage Brut Rosé is comprised of a blend of sixty percent Pinot Meunier, thirty percent Pinot Noir and ten percent Chardonnay. The wine has a nice, cherry red color and jumps from the glass in a vibrant aromatic constellation of cherries, cinnamon stick, orange zest, rye toast and a fine base of stony minerality. On the palate the wine is deep, full-bodied, young and snappy, with excellent depth at the core, brisk acids, refined mousse and very good length and grip on the young and primary finish. This is a very promising bottle, but it needs a bit of bottle age to soften and blossom. It should prove to be lovely with a bit of bottle age. 2016-2030.

- John Gilman View from the Cellar (9/1/2013)

Champagne Laherte Frères NV 'Ultradition' Rose, Champagne AOC
Rating: *

This is based on Pinot Noir and Meunier, with about 10 to 15 percent of Chardonnay, and 15 percent of the total is red wine made from Meunier. It's delicately fragrant, showing soft, forward notes of raspberry and orange zest, and while it's voluptuously fruity on the palate, it's supported by bright acidity, helping it to maintain a fresh, lively feel despite its ripeness.

- Peter Liem's ChampagneGuide.net (2/1/2013)

Champagne Laherte Frères NV 'Ultradition' Rose, Champagne AOC
Rating: 90

The NV Brut Rose is a tightly-wound, powerful wine that emerges with an array of perfumed, mineral-infused red fruits. This sinewy, taut rose should drink beautifully, especially when paired with food, but it needs at least 6-12 months on the cork. No disgorgement date provided. Anticipated maturity: 2010-2015.

- The Wine Advocate (10/1/2009)