Champagne Larmandier-Bernier Blanc de Blancs

I chilled this incredible growers Champagne Larmandier-Bernier Latitude Blanc de Blanc Extra Brut all afternoon in the ❄️ = time to pop it open and tell you how amazing this wine is.

Champagne Larmandier-Bernier are what is called a growers Champagne. That means that they both grow and make their own champagne under their own label. Both the Larmandier and the Bernier families have been involved in winemaking since the French Revolution.  The families were joined together in 1971 through the marriage of Philippe Larmandier and Elisabeth Bernier in 1971.  The estate is located in the sub-region of Champagne, Côte des Blancs.  The estate has been using biodynamic practices for over 20 years.

Their old vines/vieilles vignes use zero pesticide, indigenous yeasts and minimum 2 years maturation (with 11 months on the lees) in casks and wooden vats. Their wines are as pure as they can get - no filtering, no fining. Their Champagnes are energy, minerals, fresh and an expression of their terroir. Their wines have little or no dosage. Their Champagnes equate energy, minerals, fresh and an expression of their terroir. Their wines have little or no dosage.

The Champagne Larmandier-Bernier Latitude Blanc de Blancs Extra Brut is 100% Chardonnay grapes which all come from the same “Latitude”: the south of Vertus. This non-vintage cuvée contains 40% reserve wines. Each bottle is disgorged by hand 6 months before being marketed. The dosage is only 4 g/l (extra brut!).

The win explodes with crisp green apple and pear, tart lemon, peach, blanched almonds, brioche, pastry, biscuit, white blossom and a chalky minerality. Lively high acidity with a creamy mousse, lively bubbles and medium bodied. It’s fresh, elegant and a pleasure to drink.

Pair with smoked salmon blinis with chive cream, crostini with whipped cream cheese and caramelized onions, oysters with champagne mignonette or shrimp in garlic cream.

Video of chilling Champagne in the snow