Champagne Larmandier Bernier, Extra Brut 1er Cru Rosé de Saignée, Côte des Blancs, Champagne, France

Producer Profile

Averaging 33 years of age, Larmandier-Bernier’s 15 hectares of vineyards lie on the spectacular terroirs of the Côte des Blancs:

Vertus, a 1er cru village, as well as the Grand Crus Cramant, Chouilly, Oger and Avize. According to Pierre and Sophie Larmandier, “the creation of a great Champagne, like the creation of any great wine, begins in the vineyard.” This philosophy is why they manage their vineyards biodynamically, harvesting their grapes manually at optimal ripeness to produce extraordinary expressions of each terroir. Fermentation using natural yeasts in a mixture of stainless steel vats, wooden casks and barrels, together with long, slow ageing at either Brut Nature (0 g/l) or Extra Brut (2-5 g/l) allows for the clearest of expressions.

Viticulture

Coming from the estate’s old Pinot Noir vines planted in Vertus. Pierre and Sophie manage their vineyards biodynamically, harvesting their grapes manually at optimal ripeness to produce extraordinary expressions of each terroir. Their vines are cultivated with respect for the terroir (ploughing, which favours deep-reaching roots and preserves the life of the soil) and respect for the plant throughout the growing period.

Winemaking

The Pinots are partly destemmed and left to macerate for two to three days before the 'bleeding' is carried out. Then come the natural alcoholic fermentation (indigenous yeast) in an enamel-lined steel vat, the malolactic fermentation and the maturation on the lees for about a year. The bottling takes place end of July. The wines are left on their natural lees for nearly a year and undergo gentle bâtonnages, but no filtering or fining. The bottles are then taken down into the coolness of the cellars, where the second fermentation and the maturation ‘on laths’ quietly take place over a period of at least 2 years. The wine is then disgorged 6 months before being marketed with a discreet dosage (3 grams of sugar).

Tasting Note

Maceration, which is an original choice in Champagne, brings both fruit and fine aromas to this rosé with character. Cinnamon, spice, rose petals and dried herbs make this Rosé distinctly aromatic and savory.

Food Matching

This Rosé Champagne is ideal as an aperitif and also with a tuna-fish tartare or delicate meats.