Larmandier-Bernier : Vertus Blanc Premier Cru 2018

Tasting notes and serving tips for the Vertus Blanc Premier Cru 2018 from Larmandier-Bernier

Tasting

Appearance

Pale yellow in color, this wine reveals subtle golden highlights.

Nose

The nose opens on aromas of white fruits, notably pear and apple, accompanied by delicate floral notes. A hallmark chalky minerality brings depth and distinction to the aromatic profile.

Palate

The attack on the palate is remarkably fresh, supported by perfectly balanced acidity. Ripe fruit flavors are expressed with precision and elegance. The persistent minerality translates into a saline character that gives the wine a silky texture and exceptional length.

Food and wine pairings

This still white wine is an ideal match for seafood, especially oysters, whose natural salinity it highlights. It also pairs beautifully with fine fish such as roasted salmon or tuna carpaccio. White meats and poultry prepared with light sauces also make excellent pairings. As an aperitif, it pleasantly stimulates the palate.

Serving and cellaring

Vertus Blanc Premier Cru 2018 shows its optimal potential within a drinking window extending to around 2023, or even 2025 for those who enjoy more mature wines.

A Coteaux Champenois white wine expressing the minerality of Vertus

The estate

The Larmandier-Bernier House was founded in 1971 by Philippe Larmandier and his wife Elisabeth Bernier, who united their respective winegrowing heritages in Vertus. Since 1988, Pierre Larmandier has led the estate and profoundly transformed its approach by adopting biodynamics as early as 1999, certified in 2003. The estate spans around 19 hectares divided between Vertus (Premier Cru) and the Grand Cru villages of Cramant, Chouilly, Oger, and Avize in the Côte des Blancs. Today, Pierre and Sophie Larmandier run the House alongside their sons Arthur (who joined in 2017) and Georges (since 2021). Recognized for its environmental commitment, the estate received the Robert Parker Green Emblem in 2023.

The vineyard

Vertus Blanc Premier Cru 2018 comes from vines located in Vertus, a Premier Cru village positioned south of the Côte des Blancs. The parcels range from 100 to 220 meters in altitude, mainly between 110 and 150 meters. The subsoil is made up of Campanian chalk, a porous limestone rock dating from the Upper Cretaceous that gives the wines their distinctive minerality. This chalk acts as a water reservoir, a thermal regulator, and a natural drainage system. The vines, with an average age of 35 years, are farmed in certified biodynamics, without pesticides or herbicides, with massal selection preserving ancestral genetic heritage. This still wine is produced under the Coteaux Champenois appellation.

The vintage

The 2018 vintage was marked by exceptionally warm conditions in Champagne. The 90-day growing period between flowering and harvest was characterized by drought and high temperatures. Sugar accumulation occurred at an unprecedented pace between late July and late August. The first picking began on August 28, 2018, a particularly early date in the estate’s recent history. These conditions made it possible to obtain perfectly ripe grapes while preserving sufficient freshness thanks to selective harvesting.

Winemaking and aging

The grapes for Vertus Blanc Premier Cru 2018 are gently pressed with minimal must clarification. Fermentation takes place exclusively with indigenous yeasts in Stockinger oak barrels and large wooden foudres, chosen for their subtle influence. No temperature control is applied. The wine then remains on fine lees for around eleven months without racking or filtration. This non-interventionist approach allows the terroir to fully express itself. The wine is neither fined nor filtered before bottling.

Grape variety

100% Chardonnay