Les empreintes 2016 (Champagne Laherte Freres)

Cellar for up to 11 years. Serve chilled. This charming Grower Champagne is made by the Laherte family who have been crafting artisanal Champagnes on their estate since 1889 when Jean-Baptiste Laherte founded the winery. Today they are considered one of the region’s most innovative and dynamic producers thanks to the hard work of Aurélien who is the seventh generation of the family to make Champagne here. In total they have 9 hectares of prime vineyards spread across 70 hectares which are mostly farmed biodynamically to ensure quality and to preserve the land for future generations. The fruit for this particular vintage cuvee comes from their "Les Chemins d’Epernay" parcel which dates back to 1957 for the Chardonnay and "Les Maisons Rouges" for the Pinot Noir which dates back to 1983. "Les Empreintes" means "fingerprints" in French and the Laherte family see this wine as an expression of the DNA and identity of their estate. The primary fermentation is carried out with native yeasts and in barrels to add complexity and polish. Before it is released the Champagne is given a low dosage and matured in the bottle for another three years.The old vines and the diligent winemaking give this Champagne an amazing grace and elegance with intense notes of tangerine, ginger and papaya along with a flinty minerality and vibrant freshness.