Laherte Frères Les Empreintes Extra Brut 2012

Crushed limestone, lemon peel and white pepper open with real clarity before the blend shifts into warmer territory — baked apple and brioche adding weight and texture. That interplay is the point: 50% Chardonnay from Les Chemins d'Epernay pulling toward finesse, 50% Pinot Noir from Les Rouges Maisons pushing back with structure and grip. Fine, persistent bubbles carry the tension through to a long finish with a stony, oyster-shell edge that lingers well past the last sip.