CHAMPAGNE LARMANDIER-BERNIER 'Terre de Vertus' Non Dose 1er Cru 2015 - Magnum

Grape

100% Chardonnay

Type of Champagne

Blanc de Blancs

Dosage

2gr/l

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 situated 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; wines that can recall the best of Le Mesnil (to the north) in their chalky raciness and drive.

Expert Ratings

Wine Advocate 93/100

"Disgorged this spring, 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. Right now, it can't quite match its less weighty and more chiseled 2014 and 2013 predecessors."

More About The Winery

Larmandier-Bernier is a family grower estate with 18 hectares of biodynamically farmed vineyards in the Côte des Blancs, spanning the Grand Cru villages of Cramant, Chouilly, Oger, Avize, and the Premier Cru of Vertus. Though the Larmandier and Bernier families trace their roots back to the French Revolution, the estate was officially founded in 1971, and since 1988 has been led by Pierre and Sophie Larmandier.

Pioneers of organic viticulture since 1992 and fully biodynamic since 1999, the domaine is acclaimed for its authentic terroir-driven Champagnes. Indigenous yeasts, minimal or no dosage, vinification in large oak foudres or Burgundian barrels, and extended lees aging yield wines of striking purity, minerality, and depth.

With older Chardonnay vines averaging 35 years (and up to 70 in Cramant), the wines reflect the essence of their prestigious terroirs. A perpetual reserve started in 2004 adds further complexity to their blends. Today, Larmandier-Bernier stands as one of Champagne’s leading artisan houses, crafting cuvées that rank among the region’s finest.