Champagne Laherte Frères Petit Meslier Extra Brut

Champagne Laherte Frères Petit Meslier Extra Brut is a single-varietal bottling of one of Champagne's rarest grapes — Petit Meslier — farmed biodynamically in the Vallée de la Marne. Only a handful of growers still cultivate this endangered variety, and Laherte Frères is among the few producing it in pure form. The extra brut dosage leaves just a trace of residual sugar, allowing the grape's high natural acidity and delicate aromatics to come through unfiltered. Laherte Frères has been estate-bottling since the 1980s, working seventy-five parcels across the Marne Valley with minimal intervention and certified biodynamic practices. Petit Meslier is a late-ripening variety with unpredictable yields, which means each vintage represents a small production window and careful vineyard management. The family ferments parcel by parcel, often in neutral oak or stainless steel, and ages the wine on lees to build texture without masking the variety's inherent brightness. The extra brut dosage — typically under six grams per liter — keeps the finish dry and precise, emphasizing the site rather than sweetening the profile. In the glass, expect white flowers, citrus zest, green apple, and a subtle herbal quality that sets Petit Meslier apart from the standard Chardonnay-Pinot triad. The acidity is high and nervy, the mousse fine, and the finish long and mineral-driven. This is a wine for the Champagne drinker who has moved past introductory bottles and wants to explore the region's genetic diversity — pair it with oysters, goat cheese, or lean white fish where the wine's purity and energy can take center stage. It also works beautifully as an aperitif, especially when you want something bone-dry and thought-provoking rather than crowd-pleasing. Available for pickup at our Lincoln Park bottle shop at 1128 W Armitage Ave, local Chicago delivery, or nationwide shipping.