Laherte Freres Premier Cru Nature de Craie Champagne 750ml

2020 base, disgorged April 2022. For a number of vintages, Aurélien Laherte has been experimenting with a sans soufre (zero sulphur) cuvée. In 2018 he cracked it with two barrels of Côte des Blancs juice, drawn from two Premier Cru terroirs in Vertus and Voipreux. Laherte noted that the key factors to the stability of vinifying in the absence of any additions were zero dosage and full malolactic fermentation.

The third release of Laherte’s Nature de Craie is drawn from a single vintage (2020) cropped from parcels planted in 1960, 1965 and 1987. Craie refers to the chalky soil of these terroirs, which lie on the lower slopes ensuring good exposure, in turn providing ripeness of fruit and no need for additional dosage. From hand-harvested and traditionally pressed fruit, this release was vinified in neutral oak barrels before aging on cork for 12 months before disgorgement in April with no dosage. Expect a thrilling Champagne of exemplary aromatic energy and intense freshness.

Expect a thrilling Champagne of exemplary aromatic energy and intense freshness.