Larmandier Bernier Longitude Extra Brut Blanc de Blancs NV

Description

Pierre & Sophie Larmandier are one of the great Champagne growers. 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

This is 2017 base with between 35 and 40% reserve wines going back to 2004. Like the Latitude, this is 100% Côte des Blancs Chardonnay, 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 that results from the very chalky soils of these sites–a more linear, mineral wine. The vineyards are located in Cramant, Avize, Oger, and Vertus (north of the village). While Larmandier’s Latitude is more expansive across the palate, the Longitude, whilst also being ample enough, is a showcase of minerality, line and raciness.

This is simply a superb Blanc de Blancs, and a prestige cuvée by any other name. It is a terrific food wine–match it with anything that you might pair with a Chablis, Riesling or any white from the Loire.

93 points, William Kelley, The Wine Advocate  “Another lovely wine from Larmandier-Bernier, the 2017-base NV Extra-Brut Blanc de Blancs Premier Cru Longitude was disgorged in April 2020 with three grams per liter dosage. Mingling aromas of citrus oil, green apple and pear with hints of white flowers and fresh bread, it’s medium to full-bodied, elegantly enveloping and precise, with a more mineral, chiseled profile than the Latitude bottling, reflecting its origins in optimally situated parcels in Vertus, Oger, Avize, Cramant. As I’ve written before, this is one of the finest non-vintage bottlings to be found in Champagne, and it comes warmly recommended.” 

95 points, Mike Bennie, The Wine Front “… Scents of just ripe stone fruit, talc, faint honey and toast, a light caramel note too, all adding up to quite subtle and pretty. Creaminess in texture with very fine bead, vivacious and fresh-tasting with lovely salty-chalky feel very present through the wine and to the powdery, lightly puckering finish. Vinous in a way, gently savoury throughout, exceptionally long and runs with so much energy. Beautiful.”

RRP $205   Our Special Price $159.99 when you buy 6 or more.