Laherte Frères : Rosé de Saignée Les Beaudiers 2021

Tasting characteristics and advice for Rosé de Saignée Les Beaudiers 2021 from Laherte Frères

Tasting

Appearance

The color shows an intense pink hue with scarlet highlights, noticeably deeper than traditional blended rosés.

Nose

The nose reveals fine aromatic complexity, with notes of concentrated red berries, notably redcurrant and cranberry. Floral hints of rose complete the bouquet, alongside subtle spicy touches reminiscent of Timut pepper. The whole is intense and harmonious, gradually unfolding with aeration.

Palate

The attack is rich and generous, carried by bright acidity that brings freshness and tension. The texture is creamy and supple, offering a fine balance between concentration and delicacy. The taut finish stands out for its remarkable length, with lingering aromas of red berries and rose, sometimes accompanied by mineral notes and stone fruit.

Food and wine pairings

This characterful rosé is ideally suited to main courses rather than simple aperitifs. It pairs beautifully with rich, fleshy fish such as Scottish smoked salmon, sea bream carpaccio with olive oil and lemon, or crayfish. Its structure also allows it to accompany herb-roasted red meats and vegetables.

Serving and cellaring

Rosé de Saignée Les Beaudiers 2021 can be enjoyed now and through around 2035.

An intense, gastronomic rosé champagne from the Chavot terroir

The estate

Founded in 1889 by Jean-Baptiste Laherte in Chavot, the Laherte Frères estate is now led by Aurélien Laherte, representing the seventh generation of winegrowers. The estate spans around 11 hectares divided into 75 plots located in the Coteaux Sud d'Épernay, the Côte des Blancs, and the Vallée de la Marne. Recognized as one of Champagne’s most progressive producers, Laherte Frères stands out for its low-intervention approach, favoring the pure expression of terroir through organic and biodynamic viticulture, parcel-by-parcel vinifications, and minimal dosage.

The vineyard

Rosé de Saignée Les Beaudiers comes exclusively from the namesake parcel, one of Chavot’s most prestigious lieux-dits. Facing northeast and planted between 1953 and 1965, these old Meunier vines take root in clay-silt soils strewn with stones, schist, and flint, over a subsoil of soft Ypresian chalk. This geology, characteristic of the Coteaux Sud d'Épernay, gives the wine its distinctive minerality and slightly rustic character.

The vintage

The 2021 vintage in Champagne was marked by a harsh winter, including a severe frost episode that affected vineyards across France. Flowering took place at the end of May under milder conditions, followed by particularly rainy months in June and July. Weather instability characterized the period from mid-July to mid-August, before more favorable conditions allowed for optimal grape ripening.

Winemaking and aging

Rosé de Saignée Les Beaudiers 2021 is produced using the saignée method. After destemming, the Meunier grapes undergo 12 to 14 hours of skin maceration, allowing extraction of color, aromas, and a subtle tannic structure. The juice is then separated from the solids and ferments slowly in barrels with indigenous yeasts. Aging lasts six months on fine lees with regular lees stirring, before the second fermentation in bottle. Disgorgement is carried out à la volée using the traditional method, followed by a minimal dosage of around 3 g/L.

Grape variety

100% Meunier from old vines planted between 1953 and 1965.