Champagne Larmandier Bernier - 'Vieilles Vignes du Levant' Blanc de Blancs Grand Cru Extra Brut 2014

Grape

100% Chardonnay

Tasting notes

"This is a Champagne which should be tasted for its own qualities as an aperitif, to accompany poultry with morels, and this cuvée will happily stand its ground with dishes cooked in cream. It must be allowed time to open up, so that you can appreciate its power, complexity and exceptional length. It should be kept for two years (it will gain in depth) and much longer, even, if that’s how you like it." - Champagne Larmandier-Bernier

Expert Rating

Robert Parker, Wine Advocate 95/100

Disgorged in March 2023, the newly released 2014 Extra-Brut Blanc de Blancs Grand Cru Vieille Vigne du Levant unwinds in the glass with aromas of crisp stone fruit, freshly baked bread, white flowers, buttery pastry and clear honey. Full-bodied, pillowy and chiseled, with a sweet core of fruit, tangy acids and a penetrating, electric finish, it's a terrific success. - WK 

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.