Benoît Lahaye Grand Cru 2014
- Region
- France » Champagne » Champagne AOC » Montagne de Reims » Bouzy
- Type
- white traditional sparkling, extra brut
- Producer
- Vintage
- 2014
- Disgorged
- 2024-12
- On lees
- 108 months
- Grapes
- Pinot Noir, Chardonnay
- Alcohol
- 12
- Sugar
- 3
- Volume
- 750 mL
- Cellar
- 1 bottles
- Find at
Ratings
Oh dear, it seems this wine and my palate haven't had their rendezvous yet. Maybe I was letting the wine breathe, or perhaps I was just taking another sip elsewhere. 😉
Fear not, dear wine enthusiast! This bottle's moment in the spotlight is coming soon. In the meantime, why not uncork your own adventure with it? After all, the best wine stories are those we create ourselves. Cheers to new tastings on the horizon! 🥂
About Producer
Benoît Lahaye is among those few daring growers that practice certified biodynamic farming in a Champagne erratic climate. After taking responsibility for the family estate in 1993, Benoît systematically moved towards organic (certified in 2007) and biodynamic practices (certified in 2010). His Burgundy horse, named Tamise, helped him on this road (no pun intended). You can see them together in many photos online.
Today (at least in 2021) Benoît Lahaye owns 4.8 hectares, which are planted to 88% pinot noir: three hectares are located in the pinot noir epicentre of Bouzy; one - in Ambonnay; and tiny parcels in Tauxières-Mutry and Vertus.
Since 2012, all base wines are fermented in 205-litre barriques of between new and 15 years old. Interestingly, Benoît emphasises that his style is not oxidative, preferring to leave oxidative development to occur in the bottle. He also experiments with small tanks, egg fermenters and Tuscan amphorae. Only indigenous yeast is used for fermentation. Full malolactic fermentation is used since 2008 to enhance complexity and permit the reduction of .