LARMANDIER-BERNIER CHAMPAGNE LATITUDE BLANC de BLANCS EXTRA BRUT NV

Larmandier-Bernier is a renowned Maison de Champagne located in the Côte de Blancs that biodynamically cultivates its 18 hectares of vineyards, prioritising the preservation of old vines that are cultivated with minimal intervention. Ever the purists, Larmandier-Bernier utilises only indigenous yeasts, separate vinification for each cru, and little to no dosage for an unadulterated expression of terroir in their wines. The wines are vinified in a variety of stainless-steel tanks; large, old, wood foudres; enamel-lined tanks; or smaller Burgundian barrels, depending on each cru and each vintage.

Winery notes (NV)
"In the past, this cuvée was known as “Tradition”, a name chosen in the 1970’s by Pierre’s parents. The name “Latitude” was chosen to characterise better this very round cuvée, with its rich, charming style.

It is made exclusively from Chardonnay grapes which all come from the same “latitude”: the south of Vertus. A generous terroir and grapes picked fully ripe: the Latitude cuvée is the festive Champagne par excellence, which nonetheless retains the characteristic purity of the estate’s Champagnes. This non-vintage cuvée contains 40% of wines coming from the estate’s perpetual reserve started in 2004.

This is a generous terroir resulting in a round, rich, charming style, which still retains the characteristic pureness of the estate’s Champagnes. Pierre believes the wine possess "pinot-like" characteristics such as red fruit flavours and breadth on the palate — despite it being 100% Chardonnay — which he attributes to this unique terroir."

94/100 Vinous.com (NV)
"The NV Extra Brut Blanc de Blancs Latitude 1er Cru is bright, punchy and full of mineral-driven intensity. Crushed flowers, lemon peel, sage, mint and crushed rocks build as this potent, intensely saline Champagne opens in the glass. This is impressive. As always, the Latitude is a Champagne built on textural breadth and volume, typical of wines from the southern sector of Vertus."

94/100 Mike Bennie, The Wine Front, March 2025 (NV)
"Very ethereal, pure and fresh feeling, a gentle haze to texture, a core of brittle, bright, saline minerality – around this, some soft, creamy vanilla nuance, cinnamon toast, baked apple and sweet spice. It shimmers with tiny, fine bubbles. Some palate staining, liquid spice follows on… Really beautiful."

92/100 Jeb Dunnuck (NV)
"Opening to pure notes of quince and light tropical notes, with a hint of white flowers, lychee, and shortbread, it’s medium-bodied on the palate, fruity, elegant, and powdery, yet it retains its ripeness and a meringue-like quality, with a fluffy and refined mousse. I love where this is now, maintaining that light floral expressiveness."