Champagne Larmandier-Bernier - Longitude 1er Cru Extra-brut Blanc de Blancs

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, the “Vieille Vigne du Levant” is undeniably a benchmark of the Côte des Blancs. The style features creamy textures where balance is a central focus. In this understated elegance, one often finds the very best the Côte des Blancs has to offer. A highly sought-after destination.

Guide des Vins Gault & Millau

About the wine:

A true delight on the nose, with aromas of ripe yellow and white fruits, linden blossoms, and the freshness of blood orange, sprinkled with mild spices (cumin, cilantro, turmeric, curry). This sweetness is reflected in a sparkling palate, enlivened by a perfectly balanced acidity and a few lovely hints of bitterness. Elegant bubbles provide just the right amount of effervescence and tickle the tongue, while the spices and tropical fruits linger on the palate.

Robert Parker - Wine Advocate

About the wine:

With significantly greater intensity and tension than the Latitude, Larmandier’s excellent Extra-Brut Blanc de Blancs Longitude is crafted from a 2021 vintage base (60%) blended with a perpetual reserve. Disgorged in April 2024 with a dosage of two grams per liter, it is medium-bodied, taut, and incisive. Sourced from the villages of Vertus, Oger, Avize, Cramant, and Chouilly, it offers aromas of white flowers, citrus, and oyster shell. Its lively acidity, influenced by a long, cool growing season and featuring mineral notes, leads to a chalky, long-lasting finish. Expect a champagne that is more taut and less full-bodied than last year’s vintage.

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

About the wine:

Longitude perfectly embodies the archetype of a blanc de blancs meant to be enjoyed as an aperitif: a wine meant for pleasure, refreshing, genuine, and full of vibrant energy.

About the estate:

Although his family hails from Cramant, Pierre Larmandier has settled in Vertus and produces wine from plots spread across 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 dedicated work in the vineyard (certified biodynamic).

Jancis Robinson

About the wine:

More peachy and less citrusy than Latitude. It’s also more complex, with a more focused profile. Silky, with a hint of walnut-skin bitterness. A beautiful, vibrant finish—long and authentic.