Larmandier Bernier
Champagne is a labor of love for Pierre and Sophie Larmandier. They discuss each bottle as though it were a child and keep children in mind, as their ethos is to respect the environment to ensure its health for future generations. The property has been in PierreÕs family since the French Revolution. With vineyards throughout the C™te des Blancs and surrounds, the wineryÕs holdings total fifteen hectares under vine. The biodynamically worked vineyards could be considered old by Champagne standards, as the average vine age is 35 years. The Larmandier-Bernier approach is unique to Champagne; while most producers attempt to create a homogenous blend, their non-conformist attitude is as refreshing as their wines: Òour priority is always the same: to allow the terroir to express itself.ÓIn the winemaking process, low yields contribute to flavor concentration. Hand picked in the vineyards and gently pressed in the winery, each parcel is vinified separately using natural yeasts. The following spring, they taste each parcel repeatedly in order to decide which crus to blend (or not) in order to honor that wineÕs terroir.
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