Champagne Laherte Frères Petit Meslier Extra Brut

Champagne Laherte Frères Petit Meslier Extra Brut is a single-varietal expression of one of Champagne's rarest grapes, farmed biodynamically in the Vallée de la Marne. Only a handful of growers still cultivate Petit Meslier, an endangered late-ripening variety with unpredictable yields, and Laherte Frères is among the few producing it in pure form. The extra brut dosage — typically under six grams per liter of residual sugar — leaves the grape's high natural acidity and delicate aromatics unmasked, making this a wine for drinkers who want to explore Champagne's genetic diversity beyond the Chardonnay-Pinot-Meunier triad. Laherte Frères has been estate-bottling since the 1980s, working seventy-five parcels across the Marne Valley with certified biodynamic practices and minimal intervention. 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 site. Petit Meslier's late ripening and small production windows demand careful vineyard management each vintage, and the Laherte approach prioritizes precision over volume. The extra brut dosage keeps the finish dry and site-driven, emphasizing the variety's inherent brightness 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 standard Champagne varieties. The acidity is high and nervy, the mousse fine, and the finish long and mineral-driven. 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 a bone-dry aperitif when you want something thought-provoking rather than crowd-pleasing — the kind of bottle that rewards a drinker who has moved past introductory Champagne and wants to taste the region's rarest cultivars. In stock at Off Premise in Lincoln Park.