The LARMANDIER-BERNIER estate is meticulously run by Pierre Larmandier and his wife Sophie. Pierre’s family have owned vineyards in the Côte des Blancs since the Revolution. The estate is now 15 hectares, predominantly in Vertus, at the southern tip of the Côte des Blancs, and Cramant, at the northern end. The vineyards are biodynamically worked and the average age of the vines is 35 years (most Champagne vineyards are considered ‘old’ and due for replanting at 25 years). Yields are kept very low by Champagne standards, 50 hl/ha on average. In the winery the approach is classic "minimalist" with indigenous yeasts, long, slow ferments of up to two months and very little sulphur.
A mixture of fermenting vessels are utilised including large oak vats and even barriques. Very low dosage levels too and the dosage is designed to be as neutral as possible. Sometimes, as is the case in the "Terre de Vertus" and the Rosé, there is no dosage at all. In other words, everything is designed to maximise the expression of the vineyard, commune and vintage. The resulting wines are wonderful expressions of their origins, fine and delicate, yet with a mineral intensity that keeps you coming back, sip after sip. They are also remarkably good food wines!
Like Egly-Ouriet and Selosse, Larmandier-Bernier has been rated as one of Champagne’s top 5 producers by andrew Jefford in his celebrated work, The New France, [Mitchell Beazley]
"This is a much more powerful, textured, backward wine. More weight and density with a pulpy core of fruit. You can see the changes of the new viticulture coming through (biodynamics was introduced in 94). Lovely fleshy wine. Will cellar well for a year or two at least."
