LARMANDIER-BERNIER Terre de Vertus Premier Cru Blanc de Blancs, Champagne

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 Champagne Larmandier - 100% delicious and all class. 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 tend to offer. Pure and mineral, this offers texture and stone-fruited depth without sacrificing the cut-diamond precision and citrusy, chalky energy that is a given at this address. Extremely versatile at the table, both of the entry cuvées can work with a wide range of dishes from fish, terrines, any chicken dish particularly lemon chicken and most cheeses (except blue or really strong washed rind).

Like the Latitude, this is 100% Côte des Blancs Chardonnay (the vineyards are in Cramant, Avize, Oger, and Vertus), yet the vineyards from which it was drawn have thinner topsoils and so the vine roots plunge straight into the chalky bedrock. The name here refers to the vertical nature of the geographic locations of the vineyards as well as the style of wine resulting from the very chalky soils of these sites i.e., a more linear, mineral wine. While Larmandiers Latitude is expansive across the palate, the Longitude is all about minerality, line and raciness. William Kelly has called this wine one of the finest non-vintage bottlings to be found in Champagne and, while the are no reviews available for the 2019 base, the high ratio of reserve wines (40%) and the strength of this low-yielding vintage should leave you will little doubt as the quality on offer.

LARMANDIER-BERNIER Rose de Saignee Premier Cru, Champagne