Larmandier Bernier Champagne Terre De Vertus 1er Cru 2016

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

Disgorged November 2022. Terre de Vertus is one of three single-terroir Blanc de Blancs produced at this estate and certainly the most famous. It is from a parcel of vines on the chalky mid-slope of Vertus, traversing the 1er Cru lieux-dits of Les Barillers and Les Faucherets. These sites produce intensely mineral wines that recall the best of Le Mesnil (to the north) in their chalky raciness and drive.

This fermented naturally, with roughly 60% fermented and aged in neutral barrique and the other 40% in large Stockinger casks. Malolactic conversion began spontaneously, and the wines were left on their lees for nearly a year. After the second fermentation, the wine aged in bottle for another six years before being disgorged. There is no dosage 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 one of the benchmark wines of the great grower movement.

Since the mid-‘90s, this wine has always been non-dosé—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 previous vintage. Courtesy of an especially low-yielding year high in dry extract, the palate is buoyed with freshness and the chalky finish is incredibly long and scintillating. Try it with oysters, terrine, hard cheeses, roast chicken or grilled white fish.

RRP$273   *Our Price $228.99 * – VERY LIMITED!