Champagne Larmandier-Bernier Latitude Blanc de Blancs NV Base 17. Disg.April 2020

Latitude is Larmandier-Bernier's Blanc de Blancs from the southern side of Vertus, the cuvée the estate called Tradition until it renamed it for the wine's rounder character.

Larmandier-Bernier farms sixteen hectares from Vertus at the southern end of the Côte des Blancs, almost all Chardonnay, with further parcels in the grand crus of Cramant, Chouilly, Oger and Avize. Pierre Larmandier took over in 1988, moved to biodynamic viticulture in 1999 and gained organic certification in 2003; the vines are massal selections averaging around thirty-five years, and the soils are ploughed rather than sprayed so roots reach the chalk. Latitude comes from the generous southern slopes of Vertus and the fruit is picked at full maturity, which is where the wine's breadth comes from. About forty per cent of the blend is drawn from a perpetual reserve started in 2004. Fermentation and malolactic are spontaneous, in Stockinger casks and vats, the wine spends its first year on natural lees with no fining or filtration, and dosage is 2 g/l.

Drinking well now and with the substance to hold a few years; serve at about 8°C with oysters, a fish terrine or plain roast chicken.