Champagne Larmandier-Bernier

Champagne Larmandier-Bernier

Champagne Larmandier-Bernier is one of the defining houses of biodynamic grower champagne. The family estate from Vertus on the Côte des Blancs, led by Pierre Larmandier, farms around 18 hectares, almost exclusively with Chardonnay, spread across the Grand-Cru villages of Cramant, Chouilly, Oger and Avize as well as the Premier Cru Vertus.

Vineyard & Style

The house converted to organic farming as early as 1992, and has been working biodynamically since 1999, with the vines partly plowed by horse. In the cellar, Larmandier-Bernier relies on spontaneous fermentation with indigenous yeasts, aging in large Foudres and Burgundian barrels, long lees aging and minimal to zero Dosage. The goal is the most unadulterated expression possible of the chalk soils of the Côte des Blancs.

The Cuvées

The house is known for its terroir-precise Blanc de Blancs: Latitude and Longitude trace two sides around Vertus, Terre de Vertus is an undosed Premier-Cru single-vineyard champagne, plus there's the Vieille Vigne du Levant from old vines and a Rosé de Saignée.

Facts

Category RM (Récoltant-Manipulant)
Location Vertus, Côte des Blancs
Management Pierre Larmandier
Vineyard area approx. 18 ha (Grand & Premier Cru)
Farming organic (1992), biodynamic (1999)
Style Blanc de Blancs, minimal Dosage, Foudre aging

Informative Maison portrait based on public sources. A personal tasting to follow.

Questions about this article?

I don't claim to be error-free, if you notice something or have a question, write it here.

Powered by The Champagne Guy

Newsletter

Tastings, straight to your inbox.

New tastings, grower portraits and honest notes. Irregular, never dull, unsubscribe anytime.

Tulip not Flute