Larmandier-Bernier : Terre de Vertus Premier Cru Non Dosé Blanc de Blancs 2016

The freshness and complexity of a Blanc de Blancs vintage champagne

The estate

The Larmandier-Bernier Champagne house has cultivated vines for eight generations. Since 1988, Pierre Larmandier has been at the head of the 18-hectare family estate. His ambition is to produce exceptional vintages that authentically express the purity and richness of prestigious Grands Crus such as Cramant, Avize and Oger, and the Premier Cru of Vertus.

Located on the Côte des Blancs, iconic Champagne terroir, the estate’s vineyards, with 35-year-old vines on average, have been worked for more than 20 years on biodynamic practices with total respect for the terroir. The choice to eliminate chemical products and to practice ploughing, use indigenous yeasts and carry out long ageing on lees in casks and wooden barrels confers to Larmandier-Bernier wines a rare and unique minerality and expression of terroir.

The vineyard

Terre de Vertus Premier Cru Non-Dosé Blanc de Blancs 2016 stems from a plot at the hamlet of Les Barillers, located in the middle of the Vertus hillside, a great Champagne terroir.

The wine

It was in 1995, upon tasting the light-coloured wines from the different south-west facing hamlets in the middle of the Vertus hillside, that Pierre and Sophie Larmandier decided to create a new cuvée. Terre de Vertus Premier Cru Non-Dosé Blanc de Blancs reveals the true expression of the chardonnay grape coming from a single year and a unique terroir (the Les Barillers hamlet). This Brut Nature champagne is undosed, to fully express the purity and the minerality of its terroir.

Winemaking and ageing

The grapes were delicately pressed, followed by settling and funneling. Natural alcoholic fermentation then malolactic fermentation in casks and barrels, as well as the first year's ageing on lees before bottling. Then additional ageing was carried out for a minimum of 5 years in the coolness of the house cellars. The disgorging of this Blanc de Blancs champagne was carried out 6 months before going on the market.

Blend

Chardonnay (100%)

Characteristics and tasting tips for Terre de Vertus Premier Cru Non Dosé Blanc de Blancs 2016 from Larmandier-Bernier

Tasting

A pure and direct expression of the Vertus terroir, this wine produces elegant citrus and white fruit notes, carried by a wonderful salinity and a great fresh and mineral complexity.

Food and wine pairing

Terre de Vertus Premier Cru Non-Dosé Blanc de Blancs 2016 from Larmandier-Bernier goes marvellously with oysters or truffles.

Storage

This champagne can be laid down for 5-10 years to develop all of its aromatic palette.