Laherte Frères Ultradition Extra Brut NV – Champagne – 95 Points James Suckling

🥂 95 POINTS JAMES SUCKLING! ONE OF THE MOST EXCITING GROWER CHAMPAGNES YOU CAN BUY!

95 Points – JamesSuckling.com

Laherte Frères Ultradition Extra Brut NV – Champagne, France

RRP $140 per bottle

If you love great Champagne but are tired of paying enormous prices for famous labels, the Laherte Frères Ultradition Extra Brut is a Champagne you absolutely need to discover.

This is one of the most exciting grower Champagnes in its class.

Beautifully fragrant, wonderfully textured, incredibly fresh and possessing the kind of complexity and individuality that makes the finest independent Champagne producers so fascinating.

And the critical recognition is exceptional.

95 points from James Suckling.

An extraordinary result for a Champagne at this price.

But what makes this wine so compelling is the philosophy behind it.

Laherte Frères is one of the most respected names in the modern grower Champagne movement, with seventh-generation winemaker Aurélien Laherte producing wines that celebrate the extraordinary diversity of Champagne's vineyards and grape varieties.

The Ultradition Extra Brut is a particularly fascinating expression of this approach.

Unlike the many Chardonnay-dominant Champagnes on the market, this wine is built around the extraordinary character of Pinot Meunier.

The blend is:

60% Pinot Meunier

30% Chardonnay

10% Pinot Noir

And remarkably, approximately 40% of the blend comes from reserve wines, adding depth, complexity and beautiful integration.

The dosage is just 4.5 grams per litre, producing a wonderfully dry, refreshing and beautifully balanced Champagne.

Think red apples, wild raspberries, citrus peel, quince, delicate florals, subtle brioche and beautiful chalky minerality.

The palate combines generous fruit with refreshing acidity, a wonderfully creamy mousse and an exceptionally focused finish.

This is Champagne that combines genuine drinking pleasure with the sophistication and individuality serious wine enthusiasts demand.

And at $140 a bottle, it is a brilliant introduction to one of the most exciting growers in Champagne.

Laherte Frères – Seven Generations of Extraordinary Champagne Heritage

Laherte Frères is a family-owned Champagne estate established in 1889.

Based in the village of Chavot-Courcourt, just south of Épernay, the family has cultivated vineyards across some of Champagne's most fascinating landscapes for generations.

Today, the estate is led by Aurélien Laherte, representing the seventh generation.

Aurélien has become one of the most respected figures in contemporary grower Champagne.

His approach combines traditional vineyard knowledge with a progressive commitment to sensitive farming, individual vineyard expression and minimal intervention in the cellar.

Rather than producing Champagnes designed primarily around a consistent commercial style, Laherte seeks to express the character of his vineyards.

The family's holdings extend across the Coteaux Sud d'Épernay, Vallée de la Marne and Côte des Blancs.

These diverse vineyard sites provide an extraordinary foundation for producing wines with individuality and complexity.

The estate places particular importance on ecological farming principles, careful vineyard management and the preservation of traditional Champagne grape varieties.

In the cellar, fermentation may take place in stainless steel, large oak foudres and smaller barrels, depending on the character of the fruit.

The objective is to produce wines with genuine texture, freshness and a clear sense of origin.

Laherte Frères is exactly the kind of producer that has made grower Champagne one of the most exciting categories in the world of fine wine.

🍇 Pinot Meunier – The Extraordinary Heart of Ultradition

One of the most fascinating things about Ultradition Extra Brut is its grape composition.

60% Pinot Meunier.

For decades, Pinot Meunier was often regarded primarily as a blending variety in Champagne.

Pinot Noir provided structure.

Chardonnay provided finesse.

And Meunier was frequently valued for its generous fruit and approachability.

But that perception has changed dramatically.

Some of Champagne's most exciting growers have demonstrated that Meunier is capable of producing wines of remarkable aromatic complexity, texture and individuality.

And Aurélien Laherte is one of the producers helping lead that transformation.

Meunier can produce beautiful aromas of red apple, raspberry, cherry, delicate flowers and subtle spice.

It often contributes an attractive generosity to the palate, making Champagne feel beautifully complete without excessive dosage.

In Ultradition Extra Brut, Meunier provides the wine's expressive fruit and wonderful personality.

The Chardonnay contributes freshness, precision and mineral definition.

The Pinot Noir adds structure and depth.

The result is a beautifully balanced Champagne that celebrates all three traditional grape varieties, with Meunier taking centre stage.

The Vineyards – Vallée de la Marne & Coteaux Sud d'Épernay

The fruit for Laherte Frères Ultradition Extra Brut comes from vineyards across the Vallée de la Marne and Coteaux Sud d'Épernay.

These are fascinating areas of Champagne, with diverse soils, exposures and microclimates.

The Vallée de la Marne has a particularly strong association with Pinot Meunier.

Its varied clay, limestone and chalk-influenced soils can produce wines with generous fruit, beautiful texture and distinctive savoury complexity.

The Coteaux Sud d'Épernay, situated around villages south of Épernay, offers another fascinating expression of Champagne's terroir.

Here, differences in soil composition, elevation and exposure contribute to wines of remarkable individuality.

Laherte's Ultradition draws upon several vineyard parcels, allowing the family to combine the best qualities of these different sites.

The vines average approximately 30 years of age, providing a wonderful foundation for fruit concentration and complexity.

But the objective is not simply richness.

It is balance.

Fruit intensity.

Freshness.

Mineral character.

And a beautifully integrated structure.

This is Champagne that celebrates the extraordinary diversity of its vineyards rather than attempting to hide their individuality.

Red Apple, Wild Raspberry, Quince, Violets & Chalky Minerality

The aromatic profile of Laherte Frères Ultradition Extra Brut is absolutely captivating.

James Suckling's 95-point assessment highlights the wine's beautiful perfume, with floral notes, citrus peel, quince, green apple and chalky complexity.

There is a wonderful combination of fruit generosity and mineral freshness.

The Pinot Meunier brings expressive orchard fruit and red berries.

Think crisp red apple, wild raspberry, cherry and delicate floral perfume.

The Chardonnay contributes lemon zest, green apple and a beautiful sense of tension.

The Pinot Noir provides additional depth and structure.

On the palate, the wine is wonderfully energetic.

There is a lovely creamy mousse, beautifully integrated acidity and an attractive combination of fruit richness and savoury precision.

The low dosage allows the natural character of the fruit to remain beautifully defined.

And the finish is exceptionally focused.

This is a Champagne that delivers both immediate pleasure and genuine sophistication.

It is fragrant, vibrant, beautifully textured and absolutely delicious.

95 Points – James Suckling

95 points for a $140 Champagne from one of the region's most exciting independent growers is an outstanding proposition.

40% Reserve Wines – The Secret to Extraordinary Complexity

One of the most important components of great non-vintage Champagne is the use of reserve wines.

These are wines retained from previous harvests and incorporated into later blends.

Reserve wines can contribute depth, maturity and complexity while helping producers achieve balance across different growing seasons.

For Ultradition Extra Brut, approximately 40% of the blend comes from reserve wines.

And these wines are matured in barrels on their lees.

This is a significant component of the finished Champagne.

It provides an additional dimension of texture and complexity, complementing the fresh fruit from the current harvest.

The result is a wine that combines youthful energy with beautifully integrated maturity.

There is fresh citrus and red fruit.

But there is also subtle savoury complexity, texture and depth.

This is one of the reasons Ultradition tastes like a serious, carefully constructed Champagne rather than a simple entry-level sparkling wine.

Extra Brut – Beautifully Dry Without Sacrificing Generosity

Ultradition Extra Brut is finished with a dosage of approximately 4.5 grams per litre.

This places it firmly within the Extra Brut category.

For comparison, the broader Brut classification permits up to 12 grams per litre.

The lower dosage of Ultradition allows the natural fruit and vineyard character to remain beautifully defined.

But this is not an austere or aggressively acidic Champagne.

Quite the opposite.

The generous Pinot Meunier fruit and substantial reserve-wine component provide a wonderful sense of balance.

There is texture.

There is richness.

And there is a beautifully integrated palate.

But the finish remains dry, refreshing and precise.

This is exactly what great Extra Brut Champagne should be – beautifully balanced, wonderfully expressive and extraordinarily refreshing.

Traditional Winemaking with a Modern Understanding of Terroir

The winemaking behind Ultradition Extra Brut is thoughtful and beautifully considered.

The grapes are harvested by hand.

Fermentation takes place across a combination of stainless-steel vats, large oak foudres and smaller barrels.

This allows the winemaking team to preserve the individuality of different vineyard parcels.

The wine undergoes partial malolactic fermentation, helping create a balance between freshness and texture.

Maturation on fine lees contributes further complexity and mouthfeel.

The reserve wines, which form approximately 40% of the blend, bring additional depth and maturity.

And the finished Champagne is disgorged with a low dosage.

Every decision is designed to preserve the natural character of the fruit.

This is Champagne made with extraordinary attention to detail, but without losing the sense of energy and individuality that makes Laherte Frères so special.

Why Grower Champagne Is So Exciting

Champagne is home to some of the world's most famous luxury brands.

And many of those houses produce exceptional wines.

But there is another side of Champagne that has become increasingly fascinating.

The independent growers.

These are producers who cultivate their own vineyards and make Champagne under their own names.

Rather than relying primarily on the reputation of a famous label, their wines often emphasise the character of particular vineyards, villages and grape varieties.

Laherte Frères is one of the most compelling examples.

Aurélien Laherte has developed an extraordinary reputation for producing Champagnes that are expressive, beautifully balanced and full of personality.

His wines have become favourites among serious Champagne enthusiasts around the world.

And Ultradition Extra Brut is one of the most accessible ways to experience his philosophy.

If you have been drinking the famous Champagne houses for years but have not explored the finest growers, this is a magnificent place to start.

A Magnificent Champagne for Seafood & Fine Dining

Ultradition Extra Brut is a brilliant food Champagne.

Its combination of fresh fruit, fine bubbles, savoury complexity and low dosage makes it particularly versatile.

It would be magnificent alongside freshly shucked oysters, scallops, prawns and lobster.

The wine's citrus freshness and mineral character provide a beautiful contrast to the richness of shellfish.

Its Pinot Meunier-driven fruit also makes it an excellent partner for more substantial dishes.

Think roast chicken, delicate charcuterie, mushroom risotto and beautifully prepared fish.

The creamy mousse and refreshing acidity make it particularly appealing with dishes featuring butter-based sauces.

And the low dosage ensures that the wine remains beautifully refreshing throughout the meal.

This is a Champagne that deserves to be enjoyed at the dinner table, not simply opened for a toast.

Why We Love This Champagne at Liquid Vibe

At Liquid Vibe, we have an enormous appreciation for the extraordinary grower Champagnes of France.

And Laherte Frères is one of the producers that demonstrates exactly why these wines deserve so much attention.

First, there is the history.

A family estate established in 1889, with seven generations of experience.

Then there is the winemaker.

Aurélien Laherte, one of the most exciting figures in contemporary Champagne.

Then there is the blend.

60% Pinot Meunier. 30% Chardonnay. 10% Pinot Noir.

An extraordinary combination of fruit generosity, freshness and structure.

Then there are the reserve wines.

40% of the blend, contributing depth, complexity and beautifully integrated texture.

And finally, there is the dosage.

Just 4.5 grams per litre.

The result is a beautifully dry, wonderfully balanced and incredibly expressive Champagne.

And the critics agree.

95 POINTS – JAMES SUCKLING.

At $140 a bottle, this is a compelling opportunity to discover one of Champagne's most respected independent growers.

If you love serious Champagne, beautifully expressive Pinot Meunier or sparkling wines that combine genuine complexity with extraordinary drinking pleasure, this is a bottle you absolutely need to experience.

95 POINTS. SEVEN GENERATIONS. 60% MEUNIER. 40% RESERVE WINES. JUST 4.5 G/L DOSAGE.

Laherte Frères Ultradition Extra Brut is an outstanding grower Champagne – and one we are absolutely delighted to recommend at Liquid Vibe.

Wine Details

• Producer: Laherte Frères

• Wine: Ultradition Extra Brut

• Vintage: Non-Vintage

• Region: Champagne, France

• Vineyard Areas: Vallée de la Marne and Coteaux Sud d'Épernay

• Winemaker: Aurélien Laherte

• Estate Established: 1889

• Grape Varieties: 60% Pinot Meunier, 30% Chardonnay, 10% Pinot Noir

• Reserve Wines: Approximately 40%

• Vine Age: Approximately 30 years on average

• Fermentation: Stainless-steel vats, foudres and barrels

• Malolactic Fermentation: Partial

• Dosage: Approximately 4.5 g/L

• Style: Extra Brut Grower Champagne

• Critic Rating: 95 Points – JamesSuckling.com

• RRP: $140 per bottle

• Food Pairing: Oysters, scallops, lobster, prawns, roast chicken, charcuterie and mushroom dishes

• Serving Temperature: Approximately 8–10°C

• Drinking Style: Enjoy now or cellar under suitable conditions