December 15, 2017
Vinous Fizz - Delicious Praise for Aurélien Laherte

Aurélien Laherte is a young vigneron who took control of his family’s estate, Champagne Laherte Frères, in 2007. Under his direction, Laherte Frères has become one of the most progressive and dynamic producers in the region.

Don’t believe us?

As a wine critic and owner of Vinous, Antonio Galloni tastes thousands of bottles of wine a year. So the magnitude of writing in his recent article Champagne: 2017 New Releases, “His Blanc de Blancs is one of the most memorable wines I tasted this year,” is huge! He finishes with, “Aurélien Laherte is one of the hottest growers in Champagne today.”

The future is bright for Aurélien Laherte. We’re thrilled to be importing his wines to Illinois.

95pts - Brut Nature Blanc de Blancs: “A Champagne of extraordinary finesse, the NV Brut Nature Blanc de Blancs is positively stunning. Smoke, slate, crushed rocks, lemon peel and white flowers are beautifully sculpted. Crystalline and taut, yet with remarkable resonance, the Blanc de Blancs is totally alluring from the very first taste. The current release is 50% 2015 and 50% a blend of 2014 and 2013 from vineyards in both the southern sector of Epernay and the Côte des Blancs. Disgorged: April 2017 with no dosage.”

94pts - Extra Brut Vignes d’Autrefois 2013: “Another stellar wine in the range, the 2013 Extra Brut Vignes d’Autrefois is 100% Meunier from parcels planted with a massale selection in 1947 and 1953. The old vines confer remarkable depth, texture and nuance while also preserving a good bit of detail. What a gorgeous wine this is. Disgorged: February 2017. Dosage is 2-4 grams per liter.”

92pts - Brut Ultradition: “The NV Brut Ultradition is the same base wine as the Extra Brut Ultradition. Here the higher dosage seems to give the wine greater fleshiness and immediacy, while changing the wine’s shape. Some of the mid-palate creaminess seems to have been achieved at the expense of a bit of persistence. Disgorged: November 2016. Dosage is 6-8 grams per liter.”

92pts - Extra Brut Les 7: “Laherte’s NV Extra Brut Les 7 emerges from a parcel in Chavot planted with all seven permitted varieties. Intensely perfumed and bright, Les 7 showcases striking interplay of aromas, flavors and textures. Citrus, white orchard fruit and sweet, perfumed overtones all develop in the glass. The current release is based on 2014, with 40% reserve wines from a perpetual reserve that spans vintages 2005 through 2013. Disgorged: February 2017. Dosage is 0-4 grams per liter.”

92pts - Rose de Meunier: “Tense and crystalline in the glass, the NV Rosé de Meunier is another wine in this range that is bursting at the seams with personality. This release is equal parts 2014 and 2013 vintages and is a blend of mostly Meunier vinified white, with 30% macerated juice and 10% still red wine. The low dosage of 2.5 grams per liter lends a perceptible feeling of austerity. At times, a slightly vegetal (but not unpleasant) element comes through. I would prefer to drink this over the next few years. There will be plenty to admire over that time. Disgorged: April 2017. Dosage is 2 grams per liter.”

95pts - Extra Brut VV Rose de Saignee Les Beaudiers (2013): “The NV (2013) Extra Brut VV Rosé de Saignée Les Beaudiers is mostly Meunier (a few other varieties are interplanted) from vines that were planted on 1965, 1958 and 1953. The natural richness of the old vines confers unreal depth and voluptuousness. Readers should expect a powerful, broad Champagne. In this tasting, the Beaudiers is stunning. Disgorged: July 2016. Dosage is 3 grams per liter.”

88pts - Extra Brut Les Empreintes 2011: “The 2011 Extra Brut Les Empreintes is delicate, nuanced and understated. The savory, vegetal quality of the vintage is impossible to fully escape, as is the wine’s slender construction slightly grainy feel. I would prefer to drink the 2011 sooner rather than later. Overall, this is reasonably successful wine for the year. Disgorged: February 2016. Dosage is 4 grams per liter.”