B-21 Top Recommendation
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Equally appealing for collectors of fine wine looking to stock up on impeccably crafted Champagne at bargain prices and for Champagne lovers who just can’t get enough of the really good stuff, these Larmandier-Bernier selections beautifully express their terroir with underlying, mineral-driven energy and impeccable balance, boasting “notable pedigree and pure class” according to critic Antonio Galloni and all superb values.
Sourced from 18 hectares of biodynamically certified estate vineyards in the Cotes des Blancs, the dynamic duo of 7th generation Pierre Larmandier and his wife Sophie craft their deeply textured Champagnes from Premier and Grand Cru vines averaging 35 years and ranging over 80 years, vinifying the rigorously sorted, hand-picked grapes partly or wholly in oak with indigenous yeasts on the lees for about a year, then adding low amounts of sugar or dosage and bottling without filtering or fining before extended aging in the cellar. Incorporating 40% of reserve wines begun in 2004, the two non-vintage cuvees are a study in contrasts, the 93 pt. Extra Brut Blanc de Blancs Latitude offering fleshy, rounded fruit while the 94 pt. Extra Brut Blanc de Blancs Longitude is “more chiseled than its Latitude counterpart,” both finishing long on a fine-beaded mousse and among the region’s finest values, “a classy introduction” according to the Wine Advocate’s William Kelley into the incredible depth of this portfolio. Also aged for over two years in bottle, Pierre crafted the elegant 94 pt. Larmandier-Bernier Extra Brut Premier Cru Rose de Saignee with mostly Pinot Noir that’s fully macerated over several days to yield its alluring dark rose color and rich flavors, described as “perennially superb” by William Kelley (Saignee translating as “bleeding” in French, referring to the unique method of incorporating the juice of the red-skinned grapes). Sourced from 100% Chardonnay from the single mid-slope “Les Barillers” parcel in Vertus, Vinous critic Antonio Galloni calls the muscular 93 pt. 2015 Brut Nature Blanc de Blancs Premier Cru Terre de Vertus “a brilliant wine that combines textural richness and energy” while the powerful 94 pt. 2014 Brut Nature Blanc de Blancs Premier Cru Terre de Vertus (available exclusively in magnums) is “full bodied, layered and vinous” according to the Wine Advocate’s William Kelley, both crafted in the zero dosage/no added sugar style and aged for over 5 years before bottling. Crafted from 100% Grand Cru Chardonnay vines ranging from 50 to over 80 years old, the 95 pt. 2013 Extra Brut Blanc de Blancs Grand Cru Vieille Vigne du Levant and the 96 pt. 2012 Extra Brut Blanc de Blancs Grand Cru Vieille Vigne du Levant (available exclusively in magnums) are dense, rich and harmonious wines of notable complexity, while the 96 pt. 2014 Blanc de Blancs Grand Cru Les Chemins d'Avize 96 pt. “possesses tremendous density from start to finish” according to Antonio Galloni, all capturing the essence of their unique old vine origins.
Counted “among Champagne’s finest estates” according to the Wine Advocate’s William Kelley, elite grower-producer Larmandier-Bernier crafts each cuvee to express its unique vineyard origins with minimal intervention, these knock-out selections a must buy for every Champagne lover and collector of the world’s finest sparkling wines at value prices that make it easy to experience their full range of dynamic, one of a kind Champagnes. | 
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