Champagne Larmandier-Bernier Latitude Blanc De Blancs NV 1500ml (3 Bottles)

2018 base with 40% reserve wines going back to 2004, disgorged in April 2020. Latitude is 100% Côte des Blancs Chardonnay from vineyards on the southern side of Vertus. These vineyards are on roughly the same latitude, hence the name, which also hints at the breadth of texture that the wines from these sites (having more clay in the soil) tend to offer up.

In the cellar, Larmandier uses mostly large format casks (almost all the wood now comes from Stockinger in Austria) with less and less reliance on steel tanks. The alcoholic and malolactic fermentations take place naturally, and there is no fining or filtration. Bottles are matured over a period of more than two years, disgorged manually and dosed at low, extra brut levels (in this case, four grams per litre) a minimum of six months before release.

Pure and mineral, this, like all the recent bottlings, offers superb texture and stone-fruited depth without sacrificing the cut-diamond precision and citrusy, chalky energy that is a given from this area. In short, this is classic Larmandier–100% delicious and all class. This is a wine that is extremely versatile at the table, especially if served in a wine glass, and can even be decanted. It will pair with everything from fish, shellfish, terrines, any white meat dish, game and most cheeses (except blue or strong washed-rind).

“The NV Extra Brut Blanc de Blancs Latitude 1er Cru is a powerful, driving wine that exemplifies the house style at Larmandier-Bernier. There’s real texture and breadth here. Citrus, dried almond, chamomile and crushed flowers build in a beautifully resonant, expressive Champagne that shows the natural richness that is common in the southern part of Vertus. This release is 60% 2018 and 40% a perpetual reserve that goes back to 2004. It’s fabulous.” 93 points, Antonio Galloni, Vinous