Laherte Frères was founded in 1889 in Chavot in the Côteaux Sud d’Epernay, an interesting sub-region sandwiched between the Côtes des Blancs and the Vallée de la Marne that combines the soils typical of both regions. The focus of the estate is on pinot meunier, accented with pinot noir and chardonnay. Grapes are sourced from 11 hectares of vines over a whopping 75 different parcels, all worked by Laherte family members (meaning they must be classified as a négociant house despite their grower credentials). 7 hectares are farmed biodynamically, with the remainder worked organically without certification, or at the very least lutte raisonée.
In the cellar, indigenous yeasts are used to start fermentations. All cuvées are at least partly fermented in used oak to enhance their depth and complexity. Malolactic conversion is blocked for some cuvées and only partially completed for others. The wines are bottled unfined and lightly filtered and they are finished with low dosages to avoid masking the individuality of each terroir.
A blend of 60% meunier, 30% chardonnay and 10% pinot noir, of which 40% is reserve wine. Fermented in foudre (20%), tank (20%) and barrel (60%) with regular lees stirring. Partial malolactic.
