Champagne Larmandier-Bernier Grand Cru Les Chemins d'Avize 2013 Disg. Jan 2021

Les Chemins d'Avize is Larmandier-Bernier's grand cru Chardonnay from two old plots inside the village of Avize, and the newest of the estate's single-terroir cuvées.

Larmandier-Bernier works from Vertus at the southern end of the Côte des Blancs, with further holdings in the grand crus of Cramant, Chouilly, Oger and Avize. Pierre Larmandier took over in 1988, moved the estate to biodynamics in 1999 and gained organic certification in 2003; sixteen hectares are farmed, overwhelmingly Chardonnay, with massal-selection vines averaging around thirty-five years and ploughing used to drive roots deeper into the chalk. The two parcels behind this wine, Chemin de Plivot and Chemin de Flavigny, sit on very poor soil where the chalk is close to the surface, and the vines there are about sixty-five years old. A small dedicated press was bought in 2009 to handle them. The juice is barely settled before going into Stockinger casks and large wood for spontaneous alcoholic and malolactic fermentation, rests a year on natural lees without fining or filtration, then ages long in bottle before hand disgorgement at 2 g/l.

Ready now and capable of long development; serve at about 8°C with oysters, turbot or a mild washed-rind cheese.

*Every effort is made to ensure the current vintage is accurate; however, variations can occur. If you are after a specific vintage, please contact us prior to ordering.