Champagne Laherte Frres Les Longues Voyes Blanc de Noirs 2019 (Disg. Nov 2022)

Disgorged November 2022. Les Longues Voyes translates as the long way, referring not only to the 25 kilometres that you need to travel from the Laherte estate to arrive at the vineyard but also to the wines extended aging: 18 months in barrel and a further 18-20 months in bottle.
The fruit is sourced from a single hectare of biodynamic vines in Chamery, Montagne de Reims, owned by a good friend of Aurlien Lahertes. The 35-year-old vines are rooted in clay and silt over a limestone base. The wine was made from a single four-tonne press of grapes, which fermented naturally and matured in old Clos des Epeneaux and Leroux barrels. There was no malolactic conversion, and the dosage was 4 g/L.
So, the estate now has two vintage Blanc de Noirs released at the same time: Les Vignes dAutrefois from Meunier and Les Longues Voyes from Pinot Noir. The first comes from a chalky subsoil and the second from limestone, and it is fascinating to compare the different structures that result. Fans of Pinot Noir on limestone should move to the front of the queue.