Larmandier-Bernier : Latitude Extra Brut Blanc de Blancs

Based on the 2022 vintage, complemented by a perpetual reserve kept in tank and disgorged in September 2024 with a dosage of two grams per liter, the new NV Extra-Brut Blanc de Blancs Latitude is blossoming in the glass with aromas of pear, peach, lemon confit and freshly baked bread. It reveals a medium- to full-bodied, fleshy yet racy palate that is rich and giving, underpinned by ripe yet vibrant acidity and concluding with a long, resonant finish. As readers will remember, it derives from sites with deeper, clay-rich soils—mostly east- and southeast-facing—that yield sunnier, more muscular wines, a character further amplified in this dry, hot 2022-based rendition.

A tangy overtone of pink grapefruit peel rides the fine mousse in this creamy Champagne. It's layered with a subtle mesh of apricot, lemon thyme and minerally brine and chalk notes. Well-cut and harmonious. Drink now through 2025. 6,000 cases made, 100 cases imported.

This Blanc de Blancs champagne is anything but flashy and it might take a moment to switch onto its wavelength. However, it has excellent depth and finely etched contours on the medium-bodied palate, the Amalfi-lemon character building as it aerates in the glass. Beautiful balance at the very long, rather rich but very dry finish. From biodynamically grown grapes. Drink or hold.

(4 g/l dosage): Pale yellow. Pungent aromas of citrus pith, pear skin and chalky minerals, plus a suave floral aspect. Juicy and sharply focused, conveying strong mineral, lime and honeysuckle character and a jolt of iodine. Dry and emphatically mineral-driven but not austere in style, finishing with excellent clarity and lingering florality.