CHAMPAGNE LARMANDIER

CHAMPAGNE LARMANDIER-BERNIER
Estate newsletter May 2009
Hello,
The vines are one or two weeks early, despite the fact that we used new tools for ploughing; once again,
those charming weeds have caught up with us… But so far, so good.
We are very pleased with the 2008 vintage. Our flagship cuvées, Terre de Vertus and Vieille Vigne de
Cramant, do not overshadow the others quite as much, and so much the better: our aim is not to make
two little pearls, but rather a necklace of pearls!
Sophie et Pierre
In what compartment or in what cage do Larmandier-Bernier
belong? We often find ourselves confronted with the classification
syndrome – organic, bio-dynamic, natural wines, etc. - and we are
tempted to reply “in all and none of them”. These different
approaches should be parts of an overall method, both coherent and
balanced, which goes from the wine-stock to the dosage, and even
as far as the label. To our mind, the “compartment” seems unique
to each winegrower, because it is linked to his/her frame of mind,
age and personality. We do not wish to be put into one chapel. The
basics remain the same, of course, but through our constant
questioning, our “compartment” evolves every day according to the
vintages, the people we meet, our thoughts, our research… All of this is our way of saying that we
try to do our job as free and responsible citizens in this world of norms, of checks, of limits. And we
hope that we communicate our freedom to you in our wines.
Australia: For Robert, our importer, (but also for our own pleasure!), we went round to the other side of the
planet to see whether kangaroos liked Larmandier-Bernier Champagne. The programme included the following:
A meeting with journalists, wine-waiters and wine-store owners (what a pleasure to see Larmandier-Bernier in
the most prestigious restaurants and in very high-quality wine-stores).
Chairing a tasting-debate at the Melbourne Food and Wine Festival (MFWF) during which Larmandier-Bernier
was compared, in a very open manner, with the cuvées of the great brands.
And of course, a visit to some winegrowers, friends of ours, whose way of working is close to ours (which is not
very common in Australia).
1
2
3
1 :The Guillaume at Bennelong restaurant in the Sydney Opera House. 2: Tasting-debate at the MFWF; from left to right Kate McIntyre, Sophie,
Pierre, Robert and Ben Edwards, Chairman of Australian wine-waiters. 3: Julian Castagna, a well-known Australian winegrower, with Pierre.
Some news from the front (or a few thoughts about the crisis)
In 2007 and again in 2008, the Champagne producers fixed high yields, “to accompany the market”, so they
said, thus going back on the efforts undertaken a few years before to produce and at the same time pollute less.
It’s no secret: higher production rhymes with the intensive use of pesticides and fertilisers.
At the end of 2008, along came the world crisis. A slight slowdown in Champagne, and immediately, a state of
panic replaced a situation of overheating!
Champagne reacted as it always does: a strong reduction of authorized yields for the 2009 harvest and
destocking by “the cavalry” in European supermarkets!
Let’s consider the positive side of this crisis: in Champagne in general, the crisis will bring a little humility, and at
Larmandier-Bernier, it will enable us to be a little less strict as far as our allocations are concerned, and a little
calmer in our stock management in order to avoid being out of stock.
CHAMPAGNE LARMANDIER-BERNIER — 19 avenue du général de Gaulle — 51130 VERTUS — FRANCE
Tél +33 (0)3 26 52 13 24
—
Fax +33 (0)3 26 52 21 00
www.larmandier.fr
[email protected]
See over for press review ...
Some of the press review :
Visit www.larmandier.fr to get whole articles
PARKER
December 2008 Antonio Galloni
These wines from Pierre and Sophie Larmandier are exceptional in every way. Larmandier practices a non-interventionalist philosophy in the vineyards with an emphasis on low yields. A similar approach is taken in the cellar, where the wines are fermented with natural yeasts and bottled with low or no dosage in order to exalt the qualities of the sites the estate works with.
The Larmandier-Bernier Champagnes are some of the purest and most utterly engaging wines being made in the
region today. I can’t recommend them highly enough.
NV Larmandier-Bernier Blanc de Blancs 1er Cru
RATING: 91 points
NV Larmandier-Bernier Brut Blanc de Blancs Premier Cru Nature Terre de Vertus
RATING: 93 points
2004 Larmandier-Bernier Vieilles Vignes de Cramant Grand Cru Extra Brut Blanc de Blancs RATING: 93 points
NV Larmandier-Bernier Extra Brut Rosé de Saignée
RATING: 96 points
GENUSSLEXIKON
2009 Von A wie Amuse-Gueule bis Z wie Zigarre
Winzerkeller in Vertus. Durch Finesse besticht der Blanc de Blancs aus Premier-Cru-Lagen : geschmeidige Fülle, rund und angenehm cremig mit Aromen nach weißer Mandel nebst einem aparten Hauch von Brioche - und freundlichen Preis.
Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar
Nov/Dec 08
2004 Larmandier-Bernier Vieille Vigne de Cramant Blanc de Blancs Extra Brut, By Josh Raynolds
92 points
UK Magazine September 2008
Beat the shortage with Live’s five best boutique champagnes, By Tom Bailey
LARMANDIER-BERNIER Terre de Vertus NV : Wine geeks and critics including Andrew Jefford have pronounced their champagne
second only to Krug. It’s non-dosage, meaning no sugar or sweetener is added. Verdict : Floral, with addictive notes of brioche.
SAVEURS Février 2009 Bulles de terroir
Femme Actuelle 30 novembre 2008 Le vin bio, un nectar pur et accessible
Ces vins sont-ils meilleurs ? « Pas forcément ! Derrière un vin, il y a un homme dans sa vigne, puis dans sa cave... lorsque le
vigneron bio est un homme de talent, cela donne des vins « magiques » » Notre sélection de valeurs sûres : LarmandierBernier Brut Tradition 1er cru.
The NY Times
November 5th 2008 Eric Asimov, Taking Champagne back to its roots
Any restaurant in New York with a decent wine list will have at least one of these small Champagne houses among the big
names. Grower-producers like Larmandier-Bernier, Egly-Ouriet, ...
The Observer
November 2008 Top festive bubbles, Tim Atkin gives us his fizzy recommendations for the party season
Here are 16 of my current favourites, from party fizz to the finest champagnes : Larmandier-Bernier Terre de Vertus 1er cru
I love this bone-dry, partially barrel-fermented grower’s champagne. It’s focused and beautifully proportioned.
DE STANDAARD MAGAZINE, Belgique, 22 novembre 2008 OOK UITMUNTEND MAAR GOEDKOPER Larmandier-Bernier
La Tribune 6 décembre 2008 En piste pour la magie des bulles, L’aristocratie des cuvées Larmandier-Bernier
Pierre et Sophie Larmandier travaillent leurs vignes sans pesticides, sans engrais, sans saloperies. Et un beau jour, sans qu’ils
s’en aperçoivent, leur champagne deviendra un culte.
Le Figaro Guide
11 décembre 2008 Dix vignerons talentueux, La sélection de Bernard Burtschy : Larmandier-Bernier 1er
cru Blanc de Blancs. Voilà maintenant bien longtemps que Pierre et Sophie Larmandier se sont lancés dans la qualité ... Leur
Blanc de Blancs est d’une grande subtilité avec de beaux et francs arômes briochés qui sont d’une grande gourmandise.
Télérama
6 au 12 décembre 2008 Entretien avec JONATHAN NOSSITER
Depuis Mondovino, son film manifeste, le cinéaste a déclaré la guerre au goût mondialisé. Les plus grands vignerons français
travaillent aujourd’hui en bio. Aubert de Vilaine à la Romanée-Conti, Dominique Lafon ou Jean-Marc Roulot à Meursault, Pierre
et Sophie Larmandier en Champagne, et bien d’autres, sont de nobles paysans qui nous mettent en relation avec la nature. Ils
vont à contre-courant de ce grand mensonge de la culture de marketing et de l’industrie agroalimentaire.
Financial Times
12 December 2008 BUBBLING TO
and
20 December 2008
Artisanal champagnes from small owner-growers are proving to be hidden gems in a brand-led market, says John Stimpfig.
Pierre Larmandier, owner of Larmandier-Bernier in Vertus, is passionate about his patch of soil and small-scale production.
CUISINE ET VINS DE FRANCE
Décembre 2008 Nos 8 valeurs sûres : Des bouteilles de caractère, des bruts loin des standards, dont 4 sont des cuvées de vignerons. Larmandier-Bernier 1er cru Blanc de Blancs 18 / 20
FINE CHAMPAGNE MAGAZINE
December 2008 SINGLE VINEYARD CHAMPAGNES A single vineyards champagne is a AC
Champagne wine produced wholly from grapes from one identified vineyard. The Mystique of a single vineyard makes many
famous wines even more exclusive. Larmandier-Bernier, Né d’une Terre de Vertus et Vieilles Vignes de Cramant
JUTARNJI LIST
(most significant daily newspaper in Croatie) 21 December 2008
Veliki blagdanski prasak Larmandier-Bernier mala je sampanjska kuca iz mjesta gdje ….
BETTANE & DESSEAUVE
2009, Larmandier-Bernier
3 BD 
Les meilleurs bruts non millésimés : Terre de vertus 1er cru Larmandier-Bernier
HUGH JOHNSON GUIDE DES VINS du monde entier 2009 Larmandier-Bernier : Blanc de Blancs de haute volée, particulièrement Terre de Vertus non dosé et Cramant Grand Cru Vieilles Vignes (02 ****)
LES MEILLEURS VINS DE FRANCE
2009
– Le guide de référence de la Revue du Vin de France
LARMANDIER-BERNIER **
GUIDE VIN GAULT ET MILLAU 2009
OZ CLARKE’S POCKET WINE GUIDE 2009 Best producers : Larmandier-Bernier
LES 1001 VINS QU’IL FAUT AVOIR GOUTES DANS SA VIE - 1001 wines you must try before you die
Octobre 2008
Larmandier-Bernier VV de Cramant, Millésime dégusté : 1999, à boire de 10 à 20 ans d’âge.
GAULT MILLAU
Janvier 2009 NOS COUPS DE CŒUR Larmandier-Bernier 1er cru Blanc de Blancs
CHAMPAGNE LARMANDIER-BERNIER - 19 avenue du général de Gaulle - 51130 VERTUS - France
www.larmandier.fr
Tel : +33 (0)3 26 52 13 24