Champagne Laherte Freres 2019 'Les Vignes d'Autrefois' Extra Brut, Champagne AOC

Champagne Laherte Freres 2019 'Les Vignes d'Autrefois' Extra Brut, Champagne AOC

Item Number: 19052

UPC: 6-306461420192

Country: France
Region: Champagne
Sub Region: Vallee de la Marne
Appellation/AVA: Champagne AOC
Estate Grown Wine: Yes
Vintage: 2019
Grape(s): 100% Pinot Meunier
Type: Wine - Sparkling
Bottle Size: 750 ml
Pack: 12
Closure: Cork
Alc by Vol(%): 12.5
Viticulture: Practicing Biodynamic
Soil Type: Clay and silt with flint, small stones and chalky subsoil

Vineyard Notes: This cuvée is a tribute to Aurélien Laherte's ancestors and to the grape variety Pinot Meunier. The selected Pinot Meunier plots for this wine were planted by the Laherte family between 1947 and 1953 in the villages of Chavot and Mancy. Some have been planted on French rootstock, others are the result of old massale selection.

Winemaking Notes: Aurèlien uses traditional wooden Coquard presses. Fermentation occurs with native yeast in old Burgundy barrels. Malolactic fermentation does not take place. The wine ages for many months on the lees. Dosage is between two and four grams per liter to create a terroir-driven Pinot Meunier sparkling that is surprising and delicate.

Reviews

  • Jeb Dunnuck
    Rating: 95 (11/17/2023)
    The 2019 Champagne Les Vignes D'Autrefois Extra Brut is made from Meunier coming from plots within Sud Epernay that were planted in 1947. The area is at the bottom of a hill that’s susceptible to frost, which is why they planted to Meunier on the chalk soils as opposed to the sand or clay of the Marne. Pouring a rich straw hue, the wine offers expressive notes of crushed chalk, fresh red cherry, and a sapidity of graham. Medium-bodied on the palate, it has a focused yet generous feel, with fresh notes of orange citrus and crunchy earth, and finishes with more intense focus on the back palate. It would pair well with classic dishes such as oysters and shellfish. Mouthwatering and very long, it’s in a very attractive place now and has the structure to hold over the coming decade. Disgorged November 2022. 2 grams per liter dosage.