Laherte Freres
Champagne Les Empreintes Extra Brut Millesime 2018
| Denomination | AOC Champagne Extra Brut |
|---|---|
| Size | 0,75 l |
| Alcohol content | 12.5% by volume |
| Area | Champagne region (France) |
| Grape varieties | 50% Chardonnay, 50% Pinot Nero |
| Aging | Aged in wood, mostly in barrels and foudres. |
- Millesimo 2018 Extra Brut: classic method, dry, 12.5% vol
- Equal blend: 50% Chardonnay and 50% Pinot Noir, balance and structure
- Vinification: barrique, no malolactic fermentation; ageing in barrels and foudres
- Aromas and taste: lime, pineapple, melon, yellow peach; savoury umami finish
- Fine perlage: pairs with sushi, shellfish, fried fish and soft cheeses
Description
What kind of wine it is
Champagne Les Empreintes Extra Brut by Laherte Frères is a wine of strong character produced using the Traditional Method. This blend combines the structure of Pinot Noir with the elegance of Chardonnay in a mature and complex profile. On the nose, distinct aromas of lime, pineapple, melon and yellow peach emerge, while the palate is enlivened by a fine and persistent perlage. The sip is dry, savoury and juicy, enriched by intriguing umami sensations. Its pronounced gustatory tension enhances seafood dishes such as shellfish and sushi, and it also pairs excellently with delicate fried fish or soft cheeses.
Where it comes from
This cuvée originates in the renowned Champagne region, specifically in the Coteaux Sud d’Épernay, within the boundaries of Chavot-Courcourt. The Laherte Frères house focuses its work on enhancing each individual plot. The vineyard soils blend chalk with fine clay with richer portions marked by the presence of flint and limestone. This unique geological combination profoundly influences the wine’s mineral component, giving it a distinctive savoury character. The result is a direct and faithful expression of the characteristics of its terroir.
How it is produced
Production follows a rigorous approach, starting with parcel-by-parcel vinification and gentle pressing. Fermentation takes place in wooden barrels, without malolactic fermentation, to ensure a taut and vibrant acidity. The base wine then matures in barrels, where it develops structure and balance, before undergoing secondary fermentation in the bottle according to the rules of the Traditional Method. The addition of an extra brut dosage at the final stage supports the wine’s dry profile, delivering an intense, saline and extremely precise finish.
History and Curiosities
Founded in 1889, the Laherte Frères maison celebrates the authenticity of the Chavot terroir with Les Empreintes 2018, an extraordinary Extra Brut Champagne. This rare cuvée is the result of meticulous parcel-based vinification and matures in wooden barrels to preserve its elegance. Awarded 94 points by James Suckling, this vintage captivates the palate with intriguing umami notes, hints of exotic fruit and a fine, persistent perlage. A savoury and intense sip, a perfect expression of soils rich in chalk and limestone, paying homage to the excellence of great tradition.
Awards
-
2018
94/100
James Suckling is an influential American wine critic and journalist who worked at Wine Spectator for 30 years. He left the magazine in 2010 to start his own website and guidebook (JamesSuckling.com). He specialises in Italian and Bordeaux wines.
Tasting notes
Perlage
Perfume
Color
Taste
Serve at:
06 - 08 °C
Longevity:
05 - 10 years
- Start up year: 1889
- Bottles produced: 70.000
- Hectares: 10
The Laherte brothers' vineyards extend over three typical Champagne locations: Épernay, Côte des Blancs, and Vallée de la Marne; a total of 10 historic crus. The cultivation philosophy involves absolute respect for traditions and a preference for natural methods in place of chemical products: use of plant compounds to increase the defensive capacity of the vines, non-invasive pruning that maintains developed foliage in height, organisation of work and treatments according to the most auspicious days. The production process involves separate vinifications for each Cru to make the most of micro-climatic variations, followed by a work of selection and combination of the wines produced to create a harmonious, elegant and fruity Champagne. Fermentation is slow and spontaneous; one or two racking takes place before bottling.
The Champagnes of the Laherte brothers are brilliantly clean, crisp and genuine wines, resulting from cultivation and production processes based on unconventional and sustainable systems. They are elegant and refined wines that evoke the flavour of the grapes and soils from which they originated. All the products in the range are of high quality and capable of impressing even the most discerning palates, where the bubbles explode, giving that wide variety of aromas and flavours that only the best Champagnes can provide. Read more
| Name | Laherte Freres Champagne Les Empreintes Extra Brut Millesime 2018 |
|---|---|
| Type | White classic method sparkling wine extra brut |
| Denomination | Champagne AOC |
| Vintage | 2018 |
| Size | 0,75 l |
| Alcohol content | 12.5% by volume |
| Grape varieties | 50% Chardonnay, 50% Pinot Nero |
| Country | France |
| Region | Champagne region |
| Vendor | Laherte Freres |
| Story | History and Curiosities Founded in 1889, the Laherte Frères maison celebrates the authenticity of the Chavot terroir with Les Empreintes 2018, an extraordinary Extra Brut Champagne. This rare cuvée is the result of meticulous parcel-based vinification and matures in wooden barrels to preserve its elegance. Awarded 94 points by James Suckling, this vintage captivates the palate with intriguing umami notes, hints of exotic fruit and a fine, persistent perlage. A savoury and intense sip, a perfect expression of soils rich in chalk and limestone, paying homage to the excellence of great tradition. |
| Origin | Chavot-Courcourt |
| Soil composition | Chalk with fine clay; rich soils with flint and limestone |
| Production technique | Traditional method; fermentation in barriques, without malolactic fermentation; parcel by parcel vinification with immediate and gentle pressing; ageing in wood (mostly in barrels and foudres) and minimal dosage (extra brut). |
| Wine making | Traditional method; fermentation in barriques, without malolactic fermentation; plot-by-plot vinification with immediate and delicate pressing; ageing in wood (mostly in barrels and foudres) and minimal dosage (extra brut). |
| Aging | Aged in wood, mostly in barrels and foudres. |
| Allergens | Contains sulphites |