Laherte Frères Les 7
£123.58 (Inc. VAT bot. 75 cl.) / North Ireland
Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
Laherte’s NV Extra Brut Les 7 Disg. 1/2012 – latest rendition of a cuvee he formerly labeled “Les Clos” – is unusual in two respects; first, it’s a solera dating to the first harvest of these young vines in 2005; secondly, the vines in question represent a field-blend consisting of 18% Chardonnay, 18% Meunier, 17% Pinot Blanc, 15% Petit Meslier, 14% Pinot (Noir), 10% Fromenteau (a.k.a. Pinot Gris), and 8% Arbanne. Lemon and grapefruit, cucumber and celery root make for a bright, crunchy, metaphorically cooling persona. When mingled with oyster liquor, this makes for a mouthwateringly savory, mineral-rich impression that really carries the energetic, brightly bursting finish to extreme lengths. If you don’t feel as though you have been profoundly refreshed and your salivary glands tapped out after a couple of glasses of this, then I don’t know what libation could have that effect. While I can’t speak from any direct experience, my hunch is that this will be worth following for at least half a dozen years.
Features
Type of wine
Pairings
Style
Occasions
Winery
Size
Appellation
Alcohol
12.5%
Grapes
Chardonnay, Pinot Meunier, Pinot Noir, Pinot Blanc, Petit Meslier, Arbane
Serving
Between 8ºC and 10ºC
Winemaking
Fermented and aged in French oak barrels. Minimum ageing of 36 months in bottle before disgorgement.
Description
There are decisions that transcend the oenological and verge on the philosophical. In 2003, Thierry Laherte planted a plot in Chavot with a bold purpose: to revive the sensory profile of the Champagnes of 250 years ago. He recovered the seven traditional varieties that once dominated the region - Fromenteau, Arbanne, Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Pinot Blanc, Pinot Meunier and Petit Meslier - and grew them together in a single vineyard on chalky-clay soils dotted with pebbles. This decision, almost archaeological, was not an act of nostalgia, but of resistance: to make a wine that moves away from the commercial to reconnect us with the living roots of the terroir. In Laherte Frères Les 7 there is a clear desire for expression: minimum intervention, maximum truth.
Winemaking
Each grape that gives life to Laherte Frères Les 7 is harvested by hand at the right point of ripeness, pressed in the traditional way and fermented spontaneously in barrels, with no added yeasts. The wine is aged on its fine lees, with regular bâtonnage, and undergoes malolactic fermentation to gain depth. Laherte opts for a solera-style vinification, with 50% from recent vintages and 50% from reserve wines: this gives the wine complexity without sacrificing freshness. The final dosage is minimal, 4g/l, and disgorging is done by hand, underlining the artisanal character of the project.
Taste
Laherte Frères Les 7 does not seek to flatter, but to reveal its essence. The nose presents itself with precise layers of ripe apple, lemon zest, dried flowers and sourdough bread. As it opens up, notes of quince, green walnut and vibrant saltiness appear. The bubbles are very fine, almost ethereal. The palate is straight, chalky, electric. There are no concessions to sweetness: what dominates is an almost crisp mineral tension, supported by a vertical acidity. The finish is long and dry, with echoes of stone fruit, bitter almond and wet chalk. Laherte Frères Les 7, is an artisanal and cerebral Champagne, deliberate, demanding attention and rewarding with authenticity. A time capsule.
Shipping to North Ireland
50% discount on orders over £351.64Estimated transit time: 4-5 working days.
| Bottles | Price | Over £351.64 |
|---|---|---|
| 1-6 | £11.34 | £5.67 (-£5.67) |
| 7-12 | £15.38 | £7.69 (-£7.69) |
| 13-18 | £21.54 | £10.77 (-£10.77) |
| 19-24 | £29.45 | £14.72 (-£14.72) |
| 25-30 | £34.20 | £17.10 (-£17.10) |
| 31-36 | £38.24 | £19.12 (-£19.12) |
| 37-42 | £46.15 | £23.08 (-£23.08) |
| 43-48 | £50.55 | £25.27 (-£25.27) |
| 49-54 | £57.10 | £28.55 (-£28.55) |
| 55-60 | £61.36 | £30.68 (-£30.68) |
| VAT included | ||
Appellation Map
Laherte Frères Les Grandes Crayères Blanc de Blancs 2020
£93.08
£88.45/ud (-5%)
