Champagne Larmandier-Bernier Latitude NV Extra Brut Blanc de Blancs
Editor Rating
- Rated 4 stars
- Excellent
- Champagne, France
- Reviewed by: Treve Ring
- Published on: October 1, 2018
- Last modified: October 1, 2018
Review Summary:
The Larmandier and Bernier families have a long history in Champagne, traced back to the French Revolution, but it was not until the marriage of Philippe Larmandier and Elisabeth Bernier in 1971 that Champagne Larmandier-Bernier was established. Larmandier-Bernier is a gem of a grower estate with 15 biodynamically farmed hectares in Grand Cru & Premier Cru villages of the Côte des Blancs. Latitude (formally known as Tradition) is a shimmering Chardonnay sourced from vineyards in Vertus, with 70% base wine (2009 vintage) fermented in stainless steel and 30% reserve wine from foudre and neutral oak. This was aged on the lees for over 2 years before dégorgement and topping with 4 gr/l dosage. A tight core of green apple is rapidly buffered out by crispy layers of meringue, pear pastry, green apple and the aforementioned shimmer, tight with chalk and minerality that propels this to a very elongated finish. Delicate and filigreed, yet with intensity.