# Champagne Laherte Frères Rosé de Meunier Extra Brut (NV)

- **Producer:** Champagne Laherte Frères
- **Colour:** rosé
- **Type:** sparkling
- **Grapes:** Pinot Meunier
- **Region:** Champagne, France
- **Style:** Classic
- **Alcohol:** 12.5%
- **Average price:** €60
- **Vegan:** Yes
- **Contains sulphites:** Yes
- **When to drink:** Now or Later
- **Serving temperature:** 8–10 °C
- **Aromas & flavours:** raspberry, strawberry, redcurrant, cherry, orange, rose, violet, mint, white pepper, toast, brioche, smoke, cedar, dried cranberry

## About this wine

Champagne Laherte Frères was founded in 1889 by Jean-Baptiste Laherte in Chavot. Today, seventh-generation vigneron Aurélien Laherte directs the estate alongside his family, managing over 11 hectares split into 75 distinct plots across 10 villages in Champagne. Aurélien co-founded the influential Terres et Vins de Champagne collective in 2009, championing terroir-driven viticulture. This cuvée highlights old Pinot Meunier vines, traditionally treated as a secondary blending variety in the region, elevating it to a noble standalone grape.

## Interesting facts

- Crafted using a unique tripartite blending method combining white-pressed, macerated, and still red Pinot Meunier.
- Producer Aurélien Laherte co-founded Terres et Vins de Champagne to champion terroir-driven winemaking.
- Sourced exclusively from old Pinot Meunier vines aged between 25 and over 50 years.

## Food pairing

The high acidity and fine effervescence cut through rich fats, while the red fruit depth and subtle vinous structure from skin contact and red wine components complement lighter game, duck, and savory charcuterie without overpowering them.

## Wine making process

Grapes are harvested manually from old vines aged 25 to 50+ years and undergo plot-by-plot vinification. Primary fermentation takes place in oak foudres and neutral barrels using native yeasts, followed by partial malolactic fermentation. The rosé blend combines 60% white-pressed Meunier, 30% skin-macerated Meunier juice, and 10% still red Meunier wine. Maturation on fine lees for six months in wood precedes secondary bottle fermentation and 24 to 30 months of lees aging before disgorgement with an Extra Brut dosage of 2.5 g/L.