Guy Larmandier Vertus 1er Premier Cru Brut Zero NV: $75

(Carefully curated notes below are taken directly from Guy Larmandier)

“Champagne is not a luxury, but an art of living.”–Guy Larmandier

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Varietal Composition

90% Chardonnay and 10% Pinot Noir

PROVENANCE 

Vertus/France Champagne Côte Des Blanc (Marne)

Vertus is located in the Côte de Blancs subregion of Champagne. It is one of the highest rated Premier Cru villages of Champagne.

AGEING 

Aged for 3 years on the lees before disgorgement

A Few More Details…

The cellars of Champagne Guy Larmandier are located in the village of Vertus at the southern base of the Cote des Blancs. This estate owns 9 hectares of vineyards, all located within the Cote des Blancs and distributed amongst the Grand Cru rated villages of Chouilly and Cramant and the 1er Cru rated vineyards of Vertus and Cuis. 

Highly appreciated by tasters, Guy Larmandier champagne has won numerous distinctions. 

The Gold medals at the estate’s champagne competition, awarded by the Champagne professionals themselves, as well as the Gold and Silver medals at the Concours Agricole Général de Paris are the most notable awards. But Champagne Guy Larmandier is also described in extremely glowing terms in the Wine Guides: Hachette, Routes des Vins de France, Dussert-Gerber, Gault et Millau, Routard and Parker.

Tasting Notes from the Winemaker

“Sporting a markedly floral, chalky nose, this Vertus 1er Cru has a schiseled frame of a brut zero but it is not excessively bone-dry on the palate—the ample character typical of the village manifests itself in a round overall texture. The wine is firm without being hard, with a great interplay of supple fruit and intense stoniness.”

Food Pairing

Hot Fish Appetizers, Cold Fish Appetizers, Steamed Shellfish or Fish, Grilled Fish, Stewed Fish, Fish Risotto with Tomato, Sushi and Sashimi, Fish Tartare, Fish Soup with Tomato

Keep or drink?

As with all of the champagnes we provide you, they are ready to drink now. However, if you wish to save them, it can be helpful to remember this following tip:

“As a rule, non-vintage Champagnes can be kept unopened for three to four years, and vintage cuvées for five to ten years. Champagnes will change as they age – most will become a deeper, golden colour and lose some of their effervescence.”

About Guy Larmandier: Straight from them to you!

Guy Larmandier established this domaine which, following his death, is now supervised by his wife, Colette, and their two children, Francois and Marie-Helene. Annual production is on the order of 90,000 bottles. Harvest is conducted manually, the Champagnes are aged a minimum of 36 months on the lees and the Champagnes destined for the US market are disgorged on order and receive a minimal dosage so as to emphasize the purity and finesse of this special terroir.

Source: 

Guy Larmandier