Larmandier-Bernier Latitude Extra Brut

Tatler Champagne Guide 2024-2025

Grape Makeup:

100% Chardonnay

Sweetness Level:

Extra Brut

Ageing on Lees:

24+ months

Price:

$$

Cellar:

Up to five years

Category:

Culinary

What

A beloved grower estate in the Côte des Blancs, eight generations old and considered by many to be among the subregion’s greatest, has farmed biodynamically for over 20 years.

Where

Vertus, Côte des Blancs; 18ha, predominantly (over 90%) Chardonnay in Grands Crus Avize, Chouilly, Cramant and Oger along with Vertus (Premier Cru).

Why

Latitude, previously called Tradition, was renamed partly because the sites all lie on a single latitude, in the clay-dominant area south of Vertus, but also to reflect the broad, rounded style of the cuvée. It ferments spontaneously in a combination of steel, wooden casks and vats and then undergoes periodic lees stirring for almost a year before being bottled, all adding layer upon layer of sumptuous texture.

What Else

Longitude is the polar opposite, coming from a chalky string of sites along a north-south axis in Vertus, Avize, Cramant, Oger and Chouilly and also much more upright and lean in character.

Tasting Notes

The opening has an earthy, savoury richness, like cashew and parmesan, over bergamot and citron fruit with a hint of chenpi. The palate is mouth-filling and rich with slightly smoky, scorched orange and rosemary savoury fruit, ripe and bold but without nuttiness per se, more like a umami brothy richness. Gradually, hints of digestive biscuit and financier wash in on the finish, which has a waxy, luscious texture.

Try It With

Textural, fatty dishes such as Hainan chicken rice

When To Drink

Main course

Perfect For

Your friend who is a Loire drinker

Tatler Tip

Taste this side by side with their Longitude bottling for a fun piece of proof that terroir is real.

TL/DR

Earthy, brothy, mouthfilling and rich

Supplier

Altaya