Champagne Larmandier-Bernier 1er Cru Longitude Blanc de Blancs NV Base 17 Disg. Oct 2020

Longitude is Larmandier-Bernier's blanc de blancs, drawn from four Côte des Blancs villages that line up along much the same meridian.

The Larmandier family is based at Vertus, at the southern end of the Côte des Blancs, the chalk escarpment south of Épernay that gives Champagne its finest Chardonnay. The house was formed in 1971 by the marriage of Philippe Larmandier and Elisabeth Bernier; Pierre Larmandier took over from his parents in 1988 and runs it with his wife Sophie. They farm just under eighteen hectares, moved to organic working by 1992 and to biodynamics by 1999, and were certified organic in 2003. Longitude is all Chardonnay, from Vertus, Oger, Avize and Cramant, where the chalk is all but at the surface. Fermentation is on native yeasts in Stockinger casks and vats, the wine keeps its first year on natural lees, and after a July tirage it spends at least two more years on laths before hand disgorgement. Dosage is two grams, and around forty per cent of the blend comes from a perpetual reserve started in 2004.

Ready now and will develop with a few years in bottle. Serve at about 8°C with oysters, scallops or a mild soft cheese.