Laherte Frères Les Empreintes 2012

Laherte Freres Les Empreintes 2012, Disgorged January 2018.

This wine offers what Laherte refers to as the "quintessence of the Chavot terroir." It is always a selection of Laherte's five best barrels from each of his two finest Chavot terroirs--old-vine Chardonnay from a site in Les Chemins d'Epernay planted in 1957, on clay with chalky subsoils, (around a third of the Chardonnay is actually the rare Chardonnay-Muscaté), and Pinot Noir from Les Rouges Maisons, planted in the late '80s on a deep soil rich in clay, flint and schist. Both wines are vinified separately and entirely raised in old Burgundian barrels (including portions fermented in second-hand DRC Le Montrachet barrels). The dosage here is 4 g/L.

This is easily the finest example of this wine we have shipped, clearly articulating the skyrocketing progression of this Estate. There is genuine depth and texture from the old vines and the clay of Les Chemins d'Epernay but this opulence is vibrantly balanced by crystalline freshness. A long, classy finish. A superb and unique Champagne that clearly speaks of its terroir.

"The 2012 Extra Brut Les Empreintes is yet another compelling wine in this range Aurélien Laherte. Radiant and super-expressive on the palate, with tremendous richness, the Empreintes dazzles from start to finish. Bright saline notes add tension to the sculpted finish in a Champagne that delivers the goods big time. Les Empreintes is a blend of 50% Chardonnay from Les Chemins d'Epernay and 50% Pinot Noir from Les Rouges Maisons, both in Chavot, planted in 1957 and 1983 respectively. In a word: superb. Dosage is 4 grams per liter. Disgorged: January 2018." 95 points, Antonio Galloni, Vinous