Champagne Larmandier-Bernier - Rosé de Saignée 1er Cru Extra-Brut

Bettane & Desseauve

About the estate:

Pierre and Sophie Larmandier, along with their son Arthur, have been cultivating 16 hectares using biodynamic methods for over twenty years. Few wineries, across all regions, can boast such consistency at this high level. The range is remarkably well-crafted and offered at reasonable prices. Among the estate’s legendary vintages, Vieille Vigne du Levant is unquestionably a benchmark of the Côte des Blancs. The style features creamy textures where balance is a central value. In this understated elegance, one often finds the very best the Côte des Blancs has to offer. A highly sought-after destination.

Decanter

About the wine:

The village of Vertus is unique in the Côte des Blancs for being home to a historic Pinot Noir vineyard. Here, it is blended with a touch of Pinot Gris by Pierre and Sophie Larmandier, two pillars of the Côte des Blancs, to create a striking saignée rosé (made by macerating the Pinot Noir skins in the juice during pressing) with aromas of cherry and red berries. Absolutely bursting with nuances of strawberries and flowers, it nevertheless manages to retain a linear, concentrated energy as well as a supple texture that is quite unusual for the style. A true original from the Côte des Blancs.

Robert Parker - Wine Advocate

About the wine:

Larmandier's NV Rosé de Saignée Premier Cru Extra Brut, based on the 2020 vintage, was disgorged in November 2022 with a dosage of two grams per liter, and it is one of the deepest and most intense expressions of this cuvée to date. Offering aromas of wild plums, sweet berries, and petals, it is medium-bodied to full-bodied, fleshy and vinous, with a deep fruity core and a rich, decidedly gastronomic profile.

RVF - La Revue du Vin de France / Guide des Meilleurs Vins de France

About the wine:

A lovely wine with notes of hibiscus and a bouquet of roses. It is one of the finest rosé de saignée I have tasted. On the palate, the wine is full-bodied with a velvety mousse and no harsh tannins.

About the estate:

Although his family hails from Cramant, Pierre Larmandier has settled in Vertus and produces wine from plots located in the grands crus of the Côte des Blancs, in Cramant (the sumptuous Vieille Vigne du Levant cuvée), Chouilly, Oger, and Avize. The result is a magnificent Les Chemins d'Avize, produced since 2009. Stainless steel and barrels have given way to oak casks, in which vinification takes place without the addition of yeast. The range showcases the results of sustained work in the vineyard (certified biodynamic).

Vinous

About the wine:

Made from grapes grown in Vertus, where the topsoil is deeper and contains clay, this Champagne Rosé De Saignée NV boasts a deep pink hue and is highly aromatic, opening with ripe notes of black cherry and crushed flowers, along with a hint of saltiness. Made from 90% Pinot Noir and the remainder Pinot Gris, from the 2020 vintage (though not labeled as 2020 because it hasn’t been aged long enough), it is full-bodied and juicy on the palate, with an approachable fruitiness and a salinity that ties it all together nicely. It is ripe and long on the palate, with a clean finish and lively effervescence. With a well-ripened tannic structure, a velvety texture, and notes of nectarine and blood orange on the finish, this is a lovely wine to enjoy over the next 10 years.

Jeb Dunnuck

About the wine:

Made from grapes grown in Vertus, where the topsoil is deeper and contains clay, this Champagne Rosé De Saignée NV boasts a deep pink hue and is highly aromatic, opening with ripe notes of black cherry and crushed flowers, along with a hint of saltiness. Made from 90% Pinot Noir and the remainder Pinot Gris, from the 2020 vintage (though not labeled as 2020 because it hasn’t been aged long enough), it is full-bodied and juicy on the palate, with an approachable fruitiness and a salinity that ties it all together nicely. It is ripe and long on the palate, with a clean finish and lively effervescence. With a well-ripened tannic structure, a velvety texture, and notes of nectarine and blood orange on the finish, this is a lovely wine to enjoy over the next 10 years.