Tasting Notes
Saignée literally means 'to bleed'. In winemaking parlance, it means to draw the free run juice of a grape off the grape skins typically prior to, or shortly after, the start of fermentation. In this case, the grapes (100% Pinot Noir) are allowed to macerate for several days before the juice is drawn off and it is this 'soak' that gives the colour, and much of the body and flavor, to the wine. This technique is now extremely rare in Champagne - it is a demanding method of vinification that requires grapes with an excellent degree of maturity. Most rosé (in Champagne) is made by the addition of a little red wine. Vive la difference! Cut from the same cloth as previous releases, drawn entirely from what is thought to be the oldest Pinot Noir vines in Vertus, and one of the very last 100% Pinot vineyards. As with all Larmandier's wines it's naturally fermented. Larmandier raises part of this cuvée in a Nomblot concrete egg and partly in stainless steel (and more recently he has been trialing amphora as well). It's one of Champagne's WOW wines - a wine repeatedly compared to a Chambolle-Musigny, a wine that can stop drinkers in their tracks. - Importer Note
Pierre Larmandier and his wife Sophie meticulously manage this estate. Pierre inherited the family's Côte des Blancs vineyards in 1988, and since 1992, he has transitioned to herbicide-free, organic, and now biodynamic farming—a rarity in Champagne, where only 2% of vineyards are certified organic. The estate spans 18 hectares, mainly in Vertus at the southern tip of Côte des Blancs, with holdings in Cramant, Chouilly, Oger, and Avize. Notably, many vine parcels are 50 to 70 years old, resulting in low yields, averaging 50 hl/ha.
In the winery, they embrace a classic "minimalist" approach, using indigenous yeasts, extended fermentations lasting up to two months, and minimal sulfur. They employ various fermentation and aging vessels, including large oak vats and amphorae. Dosage levels are kept very low to maintain neutrality, and in some cases, like the Terre de Vertus, no dosage is added. In essence, their focus is on showcasing the vineyard, the village, and the vintage to the fullest. The resulting wines reflect their origins superbly, offering finesse, vinosity, and a captivating mineral intensity that entices you to return to the glass sip after sip.
| Product Type | Wine Sparkling Champagne |
| Volume | 750ml |
| Country | France |
| Region | Champagne |
| Sub Region | Champagne |
| Winemaking Practices | Minimal Intervention |
| Vineyard Practices | Organic/Biodynamic |