Laherte has a magic touch with Meunier.
The grape rarely gets more nuanced, refined, and so wonderfully elegant than what you encounter in the d'Autrefois bottling. The only comparisons are with Prevost and Chartogne-Taillet.
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The d'Autrefois is sourced from vines planted in 1947 and 1953 on clay and silt soils with flint, small stones, and chalky subsoils. It's hard not to feel that the chalk contributes to the wine's tension and fineness. There's an old-vine concentration that's felt as well.
The 2016 d'Autrefois boasts explosive aromatics of herbs, citrus, and floral notes. The palate is silky and layered with driving tension. There's a really beautiful expansive power that's combined with incredible detail and refinement.
Laherte has quickly become one of our favorite Champagne producers. Their Champagnes have an incredible amount of depth along with incredible clarity. They're working organically and biodynamically and using low dosage.
The 2016 d'Autrefois is a monument to how skilled the winemaking at Laherte is. We've tasted the wine multiple times and have been blown away each time. It is one of the great expressions of Pinot Meunier.
To order, email offers@crushwineco.com or call the store at (212) 980-9463.
Joe Salamone
Wine Buyer
Crush Wine & Spirits
Antonio Galloni, Vinous Media: "The 2016 Extra Brut Vignes d’Autrefois is 100% Meunier from vines planted in 1947 and 1964 done in neutral oak. Bright and vibrant in the glass, the 2016 offers a compelling interplay of Meunier richness with striking layers of intense minerality that open over time. Sweet floral notes add inner perfume and the closing flourishes of finesse. This is such a gorgeous wine. Dosage is 2-4 grams per liter"