Laherte Freres Brut Nature Blanc de Blancs NV Brut, Champagne

This is 2016 base with a significant 50% of reserve wines from the two previous vintages. Most house or lessor grower Champagnes at this price will typically have half this amount of reserve wines, by the way. Despite the aged material, it’s a super mineral, 100% Chardonnay Champagne from the Laherte family's chalkiest soils in Chavot and Épernay. These vineyards are all biodynamically farmed and are not only rich in chalk and chalky clay (marl) but there is also flint and schist. It’s the 'chalkiness' however that drives the wine’s striking, racy, intensely saline minerality (by which we mean energy or freshness) and zingy, citric lines, while the clay content and the percentage of reserve wines gives balancing fruit weight and texture. It has been aged for just over two years in bottle following a first fermentation in barrique, foudre and tronconique cask. Like all of Laherte's Champagne, this was disgorged by hand. Another stunning value for those who love purity and minerality in their Blanc de Blancs. The note below refers to the 2015 base.

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“The NV (2015) Brut Nature Blanc de Blancs is once again one of the stars in the range, not to mention an absolutely insane value in the world of fine wine. Bright, sculpted and classy to the core, the 2015 dazzles from the very first taste. Citrus, mineral and floral notes abound in this super-expressive, finely-cut Blanc de Blancs. Crystalline and energetic, the Blanc de Blancs has so much to offer. The 2015 is a more than worthy follow up to the stellar 2013. Non-dosé.”