While it comes from near the Côte des blancs, this cuvée is blanc de noirs (Pinot noir with about 5% meunier). It is exactly what you want from grower Champagne- assertive with both quality and a point of view. There is red fruit body to this wine and considerable ripeness do you not only get lemon, apple, brioche and pear, you get hints of raspberry and strawberry and a soft minerality that is irresistible. — a month ago
So delicious and characterful 🍾🍾🥂🥂
Some notes after we visited this Champagne Grower-Producer last fall:
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This is a family-owned and managed winery, responsible for growing all of the grapes used to produce their champagne. 🍇
All of their vineyards are located in Premier Cru and Grand Cru villages within the Côte des Blancs. The Côtes des Blancs appellation is known especially for Chardonnay grapes, which tend to have a lighter, more delicate style of wine. Larmandier-Bernier’s blends are made predominantly from Chardonnay with Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier playing supporting roles. 🌸🌸
We had a tour of the cellar and winemaking facilities. Most of Larmandier-Bernier’s wines are vinified in Austrian (delicately toasted) oak vessels of various sizes. 🪵
These vessels allow a little oxygen to interact with the wine, which can enhance richness, development of aromas/ flavors, and complexity. The wines also undergo malolactic fermentation for some of the same reasons, but also to soften the acidity, given Chardonnay is a neutral grape and can have higher acidity in a cool climate like Champagne. 👍👍
The vineyards are farmed organically and biodynamically, in fact this family was one of the first to bring biodynamic farming practices to the region after experiencing delicious wines made using these practices from Alsace.
Our favorite wine of the tasting was the 2015, non-dosage, Terre de Vertus - it was so unique; a beautiful wine with a lot toasty, brioche, almond, marzipan, and round orchard fruit notes. 👏👏👏
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Now we’re tasting the 2010 Vintage Terre de Vertus and we’re equally enthralled. SO DELICIOUS. — a month ago
Clear medium gold that’s strikingly attractive. The nose is so pretty and deep with lemon and herbal aromas immediately. There are some almond notes after a bit of time along with delicate flowers. The chalk here is incredible and long. Peaches and pears, with apples and moist limestone.
The word that instantly comes to mind with this champagne is purity. It’s so pure, so alive, so vibrant. And such a good pure representation of the terroir. From Oiry in the Côte des Blancs and based from 2016 vintage. This is an intense wine and probably not for everyone, but it’s so charming and precise. Beautifully racy acidity and exquisite structure. Fresh as hell and sharp, in that good way.
That Grand Cru fruit struts its stuff in the mouth. The chalk just screams at you until you fall head over heels in love. The citrus begins to shine along with more almonds and toasted bread. Long finish with a small bite of spice. Superbly spectacular. A real gem of a champagne. — 13 days ago
Brian S
Was lacking the mousse and minerality that I usually look for. — 19 days ago