Description
This grower should need little introduction to Australian wine buyers. Few growers have laid bare their terroir quite so transparently as this biodynamic pioneer, challenging tasters to assess Champagne as they would any other great wine. Larmandier’s tireless work in the vineyard, his minimalist approach in the winery, his deep-thinking and non-conformist views – not to mention his super mineral terroir – results in a group of intensely saline, mineral wines.
100% Chardonnay, the current release embodies everything you could hope for in a Larmandier Champagne; they are precise, captivating, intense and immaculately sculpted vins de terroir.
“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
“Larmandier-Bernier exemplifies the level of purity and mineral focus that can be drawn out of primarily premier cru terroir with sufficient care and attention. These exceedingly fine wines rightfully rank high amongst the finest of Champagne’s grower producer” –Tyson Stelzer, The Champagne Guide
Terre de Vertus is one of three single-terroir Chardonnay wines produced at this Estate and certainly the most famous. It is from the chalky 1er Cru vineyard plots of Les Barillers and Les Faucherets, situated mid-slope in Vertus. These sites make arguably the most explicitly mineral wines of the village; wines that can recall the best of Le Mesnil (to the north) in their chalky raciness and drive.
This was fermented naturally and aged 60% in neutral barrique and 40% in large wooden Stockinger cask. Malolactic fermentation began spontaneously (without inoculation) and the wines were left on their natural lees for nearly a year. After the second fermentation the wine aged in bottle on cork, and there was no dosage addition at disgorgement in order to respect the purity of the terroir. The result is one of the most distinctive and mineral wines of the entire Champagne region and today it is one of the touchstone wines of the great grower movement.
This wine has always been non-dosé—since the mid 90’s, long before it was fashionable. The Larmandiers made the decision because this particular terroir (when farmed in their way: old vines, biodynamics, low yields, etc.) works best without any additions. Still very young and brimming with textural richness and energy, the new release shows a little more flex than the December ’21 disgorgement. Courtesy of a year high in dry extract, the palate is buoyed with freshness and the chalky finish incredibly long and scintillating. Try it with oysters, terrine, hard cheeses, roast chicken or grilled white fish.
“…the 2015 Brut Nature Blanc de Blancs Premier Cru Terre de Vertus offers up generous aromas of stone and orchard fruit mingled with hints of buttery pastry and blanched almonds, reflecting the ripe, sunny profile of the vintage. Full-bodied, rich and vinous, it’s a muscular, fleshy rendition of this cuvée that will need a bit of time to settle down after its recent disgorgement.” 93 points, William Kelley, The Wine Advocate
“What a striking nose of wild strawberry for a champagne that’s 100% chardonnay, but the wines of this village always tend in the berry direction. For a bone-dry wine, this is brimming with fruit and exhibits lovely elegance, then turns just slightly more austere at the very long, chalky finish.” 92 points, James Suckling, JamesSuckling.com
RRP$272 **SPECIAL BUY – $204.99 when you buy 3 or more of this wine in any dozen*
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