Larmandier-Bernier
Larmandier-Bernier Latitude
From 56 EUR from 4 retailers
A generous Extra Brut Blanc de Blancs from southern Vertus, combining ripe Chardonnay richness and rounded texture with purity, freshness and mineral precision.
Country
France
Region
Champagne
Number of retailers: 4
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European Union
Larmandier-Bernier Latitude
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Larmandier-Bernier Latitude
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Chateaunet
France
Larmandier-Bernier Latitude
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Gassås Wine
Sweden
Larmandier-Bernier Latitude
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Producer
Larmandier-Bernier
Larmandier-Bernier is a family-owned Champagne grower based in Vertus, at the southern end of the Côte des Blancs. Its vineyards extend across Premier and Grand Cru terroirs including Vertus, Cramant, Avize, Oger and Chouilly, with Chardonnay forming more than 90% of the estate's plantings.
The domaine's identity is built around allowing individual terroirs to determine the character of its wines. Biodynamic viticulture, mature fruit, indigenous yeasts, maturation in wood and minimal intervention in the cellar form a coherent philosophy centred on purity, minerality and the expression of Champagne's chalk soils.
Quick Facts
- Producer: Champagne Larmandier-Bernier
- Location: Vertus, Côte des Blancs, Champagne
- Family winegrowing roots: 1765
- Estate: 19 hectares
- Principal grape: Chardonnay — more than 90% of the vineyard
- Viticulture: Biodynamic since 1999; organic certification since 2003
History and Identity
The histories of the Larmandier and Bernier families as winegrowers extend back to 1765, and the Larmandiers have cultivated vineyards in the Premier and Grand Cru villages of the Côte des Blancs since the nineteenth century.
The modern estate took shape in 1971, when Philippe Larmandier and his wife Elisabeth Bernier, herself the owner of vineyards in Vertus, created Champagne Larmandier-Bernier and built their cellar in Vertus.
Their son Pierre Larmandier returned to the family estate in 1988 together with his wife Sophie. Pierre progressively changed the viticultural direction of the domaine, abandoning herbicides completely in 1992 before converting the entire estate to biodynamic farming in 1999. Indigenous yeasts were introduced for fermentation at the same time, while maturation increasingly moved from stainless steel towards barrels and larger wooden vats.
The next generation is now involved. Arthur Larmandier joined in 2017, followed by his brother Georges in 2021, continuing the family's involvement into another generation.
Estate, Vineyards and Terroir
Larmandier-Bernier farms approximately 19 hectares in the Côte des Blancs.
The estate identifies holdings in:
Vertus – Premier Cru
Cramant – Grand Cru
Avize – Grand Cru
Oger – Grand Cru
Chouilly – Grand Cru
Importantly, Larmandier-Bernier states that it does not purchase grapes. The wines are produced from fruit originating from its own vineyard holdings, with the estate expanding through the acquisition of vineyards rather than bought-in fruit.
The geological foundation of the domaine is the Campanian chalk of the Côte des Blancs. Larmandier-Bernier explicitly identifies this chalk as central to the mineral character of its Champagnes.
More than 90% of the vineyard is planted to Chardonnay, and the vines average approximately 35 years of age.
These percentages describe the estate plantings, not the blend of every Larmandier-Bernier Champagne.
Viticulture
Viticulture is one of the defining elements of Larmandier-Bernier.
Pierre Larmandier abandoned herbicides completely in 1992, and the entire estate has been farmed biodynamically since 1999. The vineyards have been certified organic since 2003.
The domaine works its soils to encourage deeper rooting and preserve soil life. It emphasises mature fruit, controlled yields, old vines and massal selections originating from earlier generations of the Larmandier and Bernier families. Harvesting is carried out manually once the desired maturity has been achieved.
The objective is not biodynamics as an end in itself, but to produce grapes capable of transmitting differences between individual vineyards and terroirs.
Production and Winemaking
The same low-intervention philosophy continues in the cellar.
Fruit is gently pressed and fermentation takes place spontaneously using indigenous yeasts, a practice used by the estate since 1999. Fermentation and maturation take place in wooden vessels, including casks and Stockinger foudres.
The wines undergo prolonged maturation on their lees — the estate describes approximately 11 months in casks and wooden vats — before bottling. They are bottled without filtration or fining.
Bottle ageing then continues for several years in the domaine's chalk cellars.
Dosage is generally restrained, but we should not hard-code one dosage level at producer level. Individual wines range across Brut Nature, Extra Brut and other specific expressions, and exact dosage belongs to the individual bottle or release.
Style and Identity
Larmandier-Bernier's stylistic identity is closely connected to Chardonnay and the chalk terroirs of the Côte des Blancs.
Rather than creating a dominant house style through cellar intervention, the domaine aims to preserve distinctions between sites. The producer itself repeatedly uses purity, minerality and terroir expression to describe the objective of its wines.
For Sipfind, I would define the producer's stylistic DNA as:
Chalk → Chardonnay → maturity → purity → minerality → precision → low intervention.
That is more useful than assigning one universal tasting profile to the entire range, particularly because Larmandier-Bernier produces everything from Chardonnay-led blends to single-terroir Blanc de Blancs and Rosé de Saignée.
Portfolio
Larmandier-Bernier's current portfolio demonstrates the domaine's increasingly terroir-specific approach.
Latitude provides a Chardonnay-based expression centred on the southern Côte des Blancs.
Longitude follows the north-south axis of the Côte des Blancs and is a Premier Cru Blanc de Blancs.
Terre de Vertus is a single-terroir Premier Cru Blanc de Blancs from Vertus.
Les Chemins d'Avize is produced from two old-vine parcels in Avize and represents a singular Grand Cru expression.
Vieille Vigne du Levant is another of the estate's important terroir-specific Grand Cru Blanc de Blancs.
The range also includes Rosé de Saignée, Cramant Nature and Vertus Rouge.
Each should exist as an independent bottle entity within Sipfind, with vintage, dosage, blend, disgorgement and maturation information attached at the appropriate product or release level.
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Country
Region
Champagne
Champagne is widely regarded as the world's most prestigious sparkling wine region and has become synonymous with celebration, luxury and uncompromising quality. Located in northeastern France, approximately 150 kilometres east of Paris, the region combines centuries of winemaking tradition with exceptional terroir to produce sparkling wines of remarkable elegance and complexity. From legendary maisons to small grower-producers, Champagne represents the benchmark against which all other sparkling wines are measured, and its influence on global wine culture remains unrivalled.
The region's vineyards stretch across five principal districts: Montagne de Reims, Vallée de la Marne, Côte des Blancs, Côte de Sézanne and Côte des Bar. The defining characteristic of Champagne terroir is its chalk-limestone subsoil, which provides excellent drainage, mineral richness and steady water supply essential for producing grapes of exceptional quality. The cool continental climate, moderated by maritime influences, ensures slow ripening and high natural acidity, while the principal grape varieties—Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier—each contribute distinct character to the final blend. The region's 17 grand cru villages and 42 premier cru villages represent the finest expression of Champagne terroir, producing grapes of outstanding concentration and finesse.
Champagne is governed by strict AOC regulations established in 1927, which define geographical boundaries, permitted grape varieties, yields and production methods. The region is home to some of the world's most celebrated houses, including Krug, Louis Roederer, Bollinger, Dom Pérignon, Veuve Clicquot, Pol Roger, Salon, Taittinger and Moët & Chandon. These maisons have upheld the art of blending and cellar ageing for generations, producing prestige cuvées and vintage expressions that rank among the most collectible wines in the world. Alongside these historic houses, a growing number of grower-producers cultivate and vinify their own grapes, offering terroir-focused expressions that reveal the diversity and depth of Champagne's varied terroirs.
Whether exploring grand cru villages, prestige cuvées or historic maisons, Champagne offers an unparalleled journey through the birthplace of the world's finest sparkling wines. Discover Champagne Champagnes, compare prices from trusted merchants across Europe and find the best offers with Sipfind.
Grapes
Chardonnay is one of the world’s most important and prestigious white wine grapes, renowned for its remarkable versatility and ability to reflect both terroir and winemaking style. Most famously associated with Burgundy and Champagne in France, Chardonnay is cultivated across virtually every major wine-producing country and can produce everything from precise, mineral-driven whites to rich, complex wines with exceptional ageing potential.
In Burgundy, Chardonnay reaches some of its most celebrated expressions. The limestone-rich vineyards of Chablis are known for wines combining vibrant acidity, citrus character and mineral precision, while the Côte de Beaune, particularly appellations such as Meursault, Puligny-Montrachet and Chassagne-Montrachet, produces some of the world’s most sought-after and age-worthy white wines.
Chardonnay also plays a fundamental role in Champagne, where it contributes freshness, finesse and acidity to blends alongside Pinot Noir and Meunier. When produced exclusively from Chardonnay, the resulting Champagne is known as Blanc de Blancs, a style prized for its elegance, precision and capacity to develop considerable complexity with extended ageing.
The grape’s character varies significantly according to climate, terroir and winemaking. Cooler regions can produce wines showing citrus, green apple, white flowers and mineral notes, while warmer conditions can bring peach, melon and tropical-fruit character. Oak fermentation, barrel ageing and malolactic fermentation can introduce additional layers of toast, vanilla, butter and hazelnut, demonstrating Chardonnay’s exceptional stylistic range.
Beyond France, Chardonnay has established important expressions in California, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa and numerous other wine regions. From the mineral whites of Chablis and the great vineyards of Burgundy to Blanc de Blancs Champagne and modern New World interpretations, Chardonnay’s combination of versatility, complexity and terroir expression has established it as one of the defining grape varieties of fine wine.
History and Style
Larmandier-Bernier Latitude
Latitude is Larmandier-Bernier's non-vintage Blanc de Blancs Champagne from Chardonnay grown in the southern part of Vertus in the Côte des Blancs.
Its name reflects its geographical identity: all of the Chardonnay comes from vineyards situated at essentially the same latitude. The producer describes this southern Vertus terroir as richer, producing naturally round Chardonnay and giving Latitude its generous and approachable character while retaining the purity characteristic of Larmandier-Bernier.
Quick Facts
- Producer: Larmandier-Bernier
- Wine: Latitude
- Style: Extra Brut Blanc de Blancs
- Vintage status: Non-vintage
- Origin: Southern Vertus, Côte des Blancs
- Grape: 100% Chardonnay
History and Identity
Latitude was historically known as Tradition, a name chosen by Pierre Larmandier's parents during the 1970s.
The estate subsequently adopted Latitude because it better expresses both the wine's geographic origin and its particular personality. Unlike Longitude, which draws Chardonnay from several villages along the Côte des Blancs, Latitude concentrates on the southern part of Vertus.
This gives us an excellent distinction for SCI:
Latitude = breadth, richness and roundness from southern Vertus
Longitude = linearity, freshness and minerality across several Côte des Blancs terroirs
They are related wines, but they should have clearly differentiated semantic identities.
Vineyards and Terroir
Latitude is made exclusively from Chardonnay grown south of Vertus.
Larmandier-Bernier describes this terroir as generous and capable of producing particularly round Chardonnay, with the grapes harvested at full ripeness.
Vertus sits within the Côte des Blancs, whose geology is strongly influenced by Campanian chalk. Larmandier-Bernier regards this chalk as fundamental to the purity and mineral character of its Champagnes.
However, we should avoid turning the generic geology of the Côte des Blancs into an overly specific claim about every individual Latitude parcel unless the producer documents it.
For Sipfind, the geographical hierarchy should therefore be:
Champagne → Côte des Blancs → Vertus → Southern Vertus → Latitude
Perpetual Reserve
The perpetual reserve is an important part of Latitude's identity.
Latitude is non-vintage and currently incorporates 40% reserve wine from Larmandier-Bernier's perpetual reserve, which was established in 2004. Each year, part of the new harvest contributes to the reserve for future blends.
This provides continuity between different harvests without removing the influence of the estate's terroir.
For SCI we should therefore store:
Reserve system: Perpetual reserve
Reserve established: 2004
Current stated reserve component: 40%
The 40% figure should still be treated as a current release specification rather than assumed permanently for every historical release.
Production and Maturation
Latitude follows Larmandier-Bernier's broader low-intervention approach to Champagne production.
Estate grapes are harvested manually at optimum maturity and gently pressed. Individual crus, varieties and parcels are vinified separately. The wines ferment naturally using indigenous yeasts in oak casks and vats and remain on their lees for approximately the first year without racking or filtration.
After blending and tirage, secondary fermentation and further maturation take place in bottle in the estate's cellars. Larmandier-Bernier states that its Champagnes spend between three and ten years developing in the cellar depending on the cuvée before riddling and hand disgorgement.
For the master Latitude entity, detailed disgorgement dates and release-specific maturation should therefore remain attached to the individual release rather than being hard-coded universally.
Dosage
The current Latitude is classified Extra Brut with a dosage of 2 g/l.
The low dosage is consistent with Larmandier-Bernier's philosophy of relying on ripe fruit rather than dosage to create balance. Across its range, the producer deliberately keeps dosage low to preserve terroir expression.
For Sipfind:
Current dosage: 2 g/l
Classification: Extra Brut
Release-specific dosage: stored at release level when known
Style and Tasting Profile
Latitude occupies the richer and more generous side of the Larmandier-Bernier portfolio.
The estate characterises it through roundness, richness and charm, while still emphasising the purity that runs throughout its Champagnes.
That gives us a strong vintage-neutral stylistic DNA:
Ripeness → generosity → roundness → texture → purity → freshness.
This is important because we should not make Latitude sound like Longitude. Latitude's identity is deliberately broader and more generous; Longitude is the straighter, more mineral expression.
Specific notes such as citrus, marzipan, mint or chalk appearing in critic reviews belong to individual releases and should not be hard-coded into the master bottle.
Position within the Larmandier-Bernier Portfolio
Latitude belongs to what Larmandier-Bernier describes as its blended Champagnes d'Harmonie, in contrast to terroir-specific Champagnes Singuliers such as Terre de Vertus, Les Chemins d'Avize and Vieille Vigne du Levant. The estate explains that Latitude and Longitude combine different years through its perpetual reserve, whereas the singular wines can express one terroir and one year.
This gives us a very clean SCI structure:
Larmandier-Bernier
→ Champagnes d'Harmonie
→ Latitude
→ Longitude
versus
→ Terroir-specific / singular Champagnes
→ Terre de Vertus
→ Les Chemins d'Avize
→ Vieille Vigne du Levant
Latitude should therefore not have vintage child entities in the same way as Les Chemins d'Avize. Instead, when enough information exists, Sipfind can distinguish individual NV releases by base vintage/disgorgement or release identifier.
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