Larmandier-Bernier has been rated as one of Champagne’s top five producers by Andrew Jefford in his celebrated work, The New France, [Mitchell Beazley]. This estate is meticulously run by Pierre Larmandier and his wife Sophie. Pierre’s family has 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, yet there are also holdings in Cramant, Chouilly, Oger and Avize.
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 20 years. Yields are kept very low by Champagne standards, 50 hl/ha on average.
“These wines from Pierre and Sophie Larmandier are exceptional in every way. Larmandier practices a non-interventionalist (Biodynamic) philosophy in the vineyards with an emphasis on low yields. A similar approach is taken in the cellar, where the wines are fermented with natural yeasts and bottled with low or no dosage in order to exalt the qualities of the sites the estate works with. The Larmandier-Bernier Champagnes are some of the purest and most utterly engaging wines being made in the region today. I can’t recommend them highly enough.”
ANTONIO GALLONI, THE WINE ADVOCATE, DECEMBER 2008
“Few growers’ ranges in Champagne are as consistently outstanding as that of Larmandier-Bernier”
ANDREW JEFFORD, THE NEW FRANCE
“This is one of the top six producers on the Côte des Blancs.”
TOM STEVENSON, WORLD ENCYCLOPAEDIA OF CHAMPAGNE
Larmandier-Bernier Blanc de Blanc NV @ $79.99 each
As the name suggests, this is 100% Chardonnay (from Vertus 1er cru, and Grands Crus Cramant Avize and Oger), a classic aperitif style – in the best sense of that term. The blend is predominantly 60% 2007 and 40 % reserve wine from older vintages and a dosage of 4gm.
“Simply put, this is gorgeous juice.” 91 POINTS, ANTONIO GALLONI, THE WINE ADVOCATE DECEMBER 2008
Larmandier-Bernier Rosé Saignée NV @ $120 each
Forget what you know about Rosé Champagne. This is something quite different. Saignée literally means “to bleed”. In winemaking parlance, it means to use the “free run” juice of a grape, which is drawn off the grape skins prior to, or shortly after, the start of fermentation. In this case, the grapes (100% Pinot Noir) are allowed to macerate for several days before the juice is drawn off and it is this “soak” that gives the colour and much of the body and flavour to the wine. This technique is now extremely rare in Champagne where most Rosé is made by the addition of a little red wine. 3gms of dosage only. This is from the 2007 vintage even though the label does not carry a vintage.
“This is one of the most remarkable champagnes I have ever tasted. Quite a deep pink, it is almost impossibly perfumed - like a really good red burgundy, with forest fruit and spice aromas - and is intense, elegant, entrancing, crisp, juicy and endless in the mouth. Wow!”
MAX ALLEN, THE WEEKEND AUSTRALIAN MAGAZINE
“Larmandier-Bernier’s NV Extra Brut Rose de Saignee is one of the most profound wines encountered in my tastings. The color resembles the tonality of blood orange juice. This is a powerful wine that flows onto the palate with an expression of bright red fruit that recalls the wines of Chambolle in its luxuriousness, but is backed up with serious structure. This compelling, totally seductive wine possesses awesome richness and vibrancy, with layers of aromas and flavors that continue to develop in the glass all the way through to the long, intensely satisfying finish. The wine could be served alongside any dish that might be served with grand cru Burgundy, but like all of the world’s great wines, this is a bottle that creates its own occasion. Larmandier-Bernier completely redefines what Rose can be all about with this monumental effort. The estate’s rose is 100% Pinot Noir from Vertus vinified on the skins (saignee) and bottled with 3 grams of dosage.”
96 POINTS, ANTONIO GALLONI, THE WINE ADVOCATE, DECEMBER 2008