Laherte Frères Extra Brut Champagne Ultradition NV

93 points and 'Best Buy,' Wine & Spirits: "This is the flagship blend of the house, with fruit from the Côteaux Sud d’Epernay, Côte des Blancs and Vallée de la Marne. It’s 60 percent meunier, 30 percent chardonnay and 10 percent pinot noir; 40 percent of the blend is reserve wine. With its rose-pink color, red-apple fruit and spice, this tastes like a fresh red wine, its cool clarity enhanced by the pincushion of bubbles that tingle as the mineral flavors dive down through your mouth. Disgorged 10/17. (Dec 2018)"

92 points Stephen Reinhardt (Wine Advocate): "Based on the 2015 vintage and 40% of reserve wines, the NV Extra Brut Ultradition is an assemblage of 60% Pinot Meunier, 30% Chardonnay and 10% Pinot Noir from eight villages and terroirs in the Coteaux Sud d'Epernay and the Marne Valley. Vinified in cuves, pièces and foudres and aged on the lees for six months (with malolactic partly done), this is a deep, pure and complex cuvée. Full-bodied, firm and very mineral yet fine, fresh and pure on the salty palate, the finish reveals charming richness and intense fruit but keeps the firm and chalky expression of this impressive Extra Brut. I'd keep this cuvée for another two or three years, but I suppose it can also age for a decade. Tasted in August 2018 from Lot L.14 that was disgorged in November 2017. Drink: 2021-2028. (Aug 2018)"

91 points John Gilman (View From the Cellar): "The new release of Laherte Frères 'Ultradition Brut' is composed of its customary cépages of sixty percent pinot meunier, thirty percent chardonnay and ten percent pinot noir. It is from the base year of the excellent vintage of 2015, with forty percent of the blend composed of reserve wines from the previous two years. It was disgorged in September of 2018 and finished with a dosage of seven grams per liter. The bouquet is pure and complex, delivering scents of apple, white peach, brioche, lovely soil tones, a wisp of smokiness and a topnote of meunier’s lovely floral tones. On the palate the wine is crisp, complex, focused and already beautifully expressive, with a lovely core, elegant mousse, bright acids and fine length and grip on the very well-balanced finish. 2019-2045. (Jul/Aug 2019)"

91 points Antonio Galloni (Vinous): "The NV Extra Brut Ultradition is powerful, ample and creamy, with tons of richness and plenty of immediacy, all the ingredients for a terrific entry-level wine. The vinous richness of Meunier comes through loud and clear. Orchard fruit, dried flowers, herbs, mint and anise all develop in the glass, but it is the wine’s resonance that leaves the deepest impression. The Ultradition is just impeccable, especially within its peer group. The blend is 60% Meunier, 30% Chardonnay and 10% Pinot Noir from vineyards in the Côteaux Sud d’Epernay, Vallée de la Marne and Côte des Blancs, based on 2016 with 40% reserve wines from 2015 and 2014. Dosage: 4.5 gr/L. Disgorged: May, 2019. Drink: 2019-2027. (Dec 2019)"