Laherte Frères

The History of Champagne Laherte Frères

The story of Laherte Frères begins in 1889, when Jean-Baptiste Laherte planted his first vines on the slopes of Chavot. A fourth-generation grower, Michel Laherte expanded the estate to around five hectares with his wife, Cécile. They modernized the press and tanks but soon realized that herbicides and pesticides prevented the terroir from expressing itself. The couple returned to working the soil and gentle winemaking, a philosophy that still guides the house. Thierry and Christian Laherte, the brothers who gave the house its name, continued this approach and reintroduced historic Champagne grape varieties.

In 2005, Aurélien Laherte took the helm of the estate and made it one of the leading names in grower-produced Champagne. He had learned to make wine as a teenager. In 2009, he and his friend Raphaël Bérêche founded the Terres et Vins de Champagne collective, bringing together some of the appellation’s most committed producers. The family vineyard is divided among several relatives. To blend grapes from across the family holdings and keep the estate united, the house chose to operate as a négociant.

The Terroirs and Vines of Champagne Laherte Frères

The Laherte Frères vineyard covers around 11 hectares across three main areas of Champagne. The heart of the estate lies in the Coteaux Sud d’Épernay, in Chavot, Épernay, Vaudancourt, Moussy, Mancy and Morangis. Situated between the Côte des Blancs and the Vallée de la Marne, this area combines surface clays with flint and Campanian chalk that often reaches the surface. The house also farms Premier Cru Chardonnay in Vertus and Voipreux, on the Côte des Blancs, as well as Meunier in Le Breuil and Boursault, in the Vallée de la Marne. These varied terroirs allow Pinot Noir, Meunier and Chardonnay to express themselves fully. Petit Meslier, Arbane, Pinot Blanc and Fromenteau complete the mix of varieties.

Around seven hectares are farmed biodynamically and certified organic. The rest of the vineyard is farmed organically without certification or, at a minimum, sustainably. A family team of around ten follows the lunar calendar throughout the year. They use herbal infusions to strengthen the vines’ natural defenses and allow the foliage to grow tall to promote balanced ripeness. Cover crops are encouraged and plowing is reduced to preserve microbial life in the soils. Some plots are even worked by horse.

Winemaking at Champagne Laherte Frères

Laherte Frères’ winemaking gives wood a prominent role while keeping intervention to a minimum. Fermentation takes place in large oak casks, tanks and, above all, used Burgundy barrels, with regular lees stirring to add texture and depth. The blends undergo partial malolactic fermentation. The single-plot cuvées generally do not, to preserve their tension, and are bottled without fining or filtration. Substantial reserves of wine and often extended aging on the lees add complexity to the champagnes. Dosage remains very low, with wines often released as Extra Brut or Brut Nature, so the character of each terroir is never obscured.

The Cuvées of Champagne Laherte Frères

Ultradition Brut: the house’s entry-level cuvée. It blends approximately 60% Meunier, 30% Chardonnay and 10% Pinot Noir from seven villages, with a substantial proportion of reserve wines. Aged in large oak casks, tanks and barrels, this fine, complex champagne is ideal as an aperitif.

Ultradition Extra Brut: the same blend as the Brut, but with an additional year of aging on the lees and a lower dosage. Its label revives an old family design. Tauter and more finely defined, it pairs beautifully with oysters and seafood.

Ultradition Rosé: this 100% Meunier rosé brings together macerated Meunier, directly pressed Meunier and a small portion of still red wine. Fruity and appealing, it charms with its freshness and easy-drinking character.

Rosé de Meunier: it starts with the same base as Ultradition Rosé but has an Extra Brut dosage. Its floral label signals a livelier, more refreshing rosé that showcases the straightforward character of Meunier.

Blanc de Blancs Brut Nature: the best Chardonnay from the Coteaux Sud d’Épernay and the Côte des Blancs is blended with a substantial proportion of reserve wines. With no dosage, this Blanc de Blancs expresses the purity and sharp minerality of chalky soils.

Blanc de Noirs Brut Nature: made from the house’s dark-skinned grape varieties with no dosage, this champagne highlights the substance and fruit of Pinot Noir and Meunier, carried through to a focused, saline finish.

Nature de Craie Premier Cru: this Brut Nature Blanc de Blancs is made from Premier Cru Chardonnay. It is a deep, intense champagne with chalk at the heart of the tasting experience.

Les Grandes Crayères: this vintage Extra Brut Blanc de Blancs comes from two small plots in Chavot with very thin soils, where Campanian chalk reaches the surface. The old massal-selection vines were planted in 1953 and 1978 and face west. Powerful, deep and structured, it has excellent aging potential.

Les Empreintes: this vintage cuvée combines equal parts Chardonnay, one-third of it Chardonnay Muscaté, from the Chemins d’Épernay plot planted in 1957, and Pinot Noir from Les Rouges Maisons, planted in 1983. Aged at least three years in bottle, it is the quintessential expression of Chavot’s terroir.

Les Vignes d’Autrefois: this cuvée pays tribute to the family’s ancestors and to Meunier. It comes from old massal-selection vines planted between 1947 and the 1960s in Chavot and Mancy, on clay and flint over chalk. Vinified in barrels without malolactic fermentation, it reveals a generous, refined expression of Meunier.

Les 7: Thierry Laherte planted this plot in Chavot in 2003 with Champagne’s seven historic grape varieties: Chardonnay, Meunier, Pinot Blanc, Petit Meslier, Pinot Noir, Fromenteau and Arbane. Worked by horse and blended using a solera system since 2005, it produces a distinctive, complex and aromatic champagne.

Petit Meslier Extra Brut: a cuvée produced in very limited quantities and devoted entirely to this nearly vanished Champagne grape variety. Exceptionally refined, it offers lively acidity and distinctive aromas that restore Petit Meslier to its rightful place.

Meslier et Pinot Brut Nature: this rare blend brings together Petit Meslier and Pinot varieties with no dosage. Taut and distinctive, it is highly sought after by lovers of historic grape varieties.

Les Longues Voyes: this 100% Pinot Noir Blanc de Noirs comes from the Montagne de Reims. Its name evokes both the long journey to the vines and its nineteen months of barrel aging. Rich yet refined, it has not undergone malolactic fermentation.

Les Rouges Maisons: this Extra Brut Blanc de Noirs comes from a Pinot Noir plot in Chavot. Its vinous substance, red fruit and chalky character make it one of the house’s highest-rated cuvées.

Bouzy Blanc de Noirs Grand Cru: this vintage cuvée from the celebrated village of Bouzy offers powerful, deep Grand Cru Pinot Noir, refined by the house’s precise winemaking.

Les Champeaux: made from the final harvest of historic old Meunier vines, picked in 2022 before the plot was replanted with Petit Meslier, this single-plot cuvée is a swan song. Precise, mineral and vinous, it combines orchard fruit, citrus and chalk.

Rosé de Saignée Les Beaudiers: it comes from old Meunier vines planted in 1953, 1958 and 1965, among which a few Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Fromenteau vines also grow. After a short maceration and at least four years of aging, this rosé is vinous and textured while retaining delicacy and energy.

Coteaux Champenois Rouge Les Meulières: produced in small quantities, this still red wine shows another side of Laherte’s winemaking skill. It offers pure fruit, a fine texture and freshness typical of Champagne.

Coteaux Champenois Les Vinages: this second still wine from the house comes from a designated plot and extends its exploration of Chavot’s terroirs beyond sparkling wine, with elegance and precision.