Larmandier-Bernier Terre de Vertus Champagne Non Dosé 1er Cru Blanc de Blancs Bio 2017 white

Larmandier-Bernier Terre de Vertus Non Dosé 1er Cru Blanc de Blancs 2017 is a pure, terroir-driven Champagne crafted entirely from Chardonnay grown in the Premier Cru village of Vertus in the southern Côte des Blancs. This is a single-village, single-terroir expression: no blending across crus, no dosage, and biodynamic farming at its core. The result is a Champagne that captures the chalky soils and cool elegance of Vertus with striking clarity and precision.

Tasting Notes
In the glass, Terre de Vertus 2017 shows a pale, luminous straw colour with hints of green, animated by a fine, persistent mousse. The nose is detailed and refined, opening with notes of lemon zest, crisp green apple and white flowers, followed by nuances of chalk, fresh bread dough, almond and a delicate, salty breeze. On the palate, this non-dosé Blanc de Blancs is racy, dry and intensely mineral, yet beautifully balanced. The attack is precise and linear, with citrus, orchard fruit and a touch of ripe pear framed by a palpable chalky texture. Hints of hazelnut, brioche and a subtle, savoury salinity unfold with air, leading to a long, mouth-watering finish that feels both tense and complete. While already highly enjoyable now for its energy and purity, this 2017 has the structure and acidity to evolve gracefully over the next 7–10 years, gaining further complexity and a more layered, smoky, nutty depth.

Production
The Chardonnay for Terre de Vertus comes from two southeast-facing mid-slope parcels, Les Barillers and Les Faucherets, in the Premier Cru village of Vertus, in the southern Côte des Blancs. Here, deep chalk and limestone-rich soils with a thin topsoil layer give naturally low yields and a pronounced mineral signature. The vines are farmed biodynamically and harvested by hand at optimal ripeness to preserve freshness and purity. The grapes are gently pressed, and the must is only lightly clarified before undergoing spontaneous alcoholic and malolactic fermentation with indigenous yeasts, traditionally in a mix of tanks and neutral oak. The wine is then aged on its lees for an extended period before bottling and secondary fermentation. Disgorged without dosage, Terre de Vertus is presented in its most unadorned form, allowing the terroir and vintage character to shine through.

Food & Serving
This precise, saline Champagne pairs beautifully with refined, mineral-driven dishes. Think oysters, scallops carpaccio, sashimi, tartare of sea bream, or simply prepared shellfish with a squeeze of lemon. It also works wonderfully with goat cheese, lightly grilled white fish, and delicate vegetable preparations such as fennel, asparagus or artichoke dishes where freshness and texture matter. Serve well-chilled at around 8–10 °C. A brief decant in a carafe, or simply pouring the first glass and giving the bottle a few minutes in the glass, can help the wine open up and reveal its more complex, chalky and nutty nuances.

Producer
Pierre and Sophie Larmandier have established Larmandier-Bernier as one of the benchmark growers in Champagne, particularly in the Côte des Blancs. Based in Vertus, the estate has long championed organic and biodynamic viticulture, focusing on old vines, low yields, and meticulous work in the vineyard rather than heavy-handed interventions in the cellar. Their wines are renowned for their purity, low or zero dosage and strong expression of terroir, often bottling individual villages or parcels rather than large blends. Terre de Vertus is one of their flagship cuvées, underscoring the quality and distinctive character that Vertus Premier Cru can achieve when farmed and vinified with such precision and care.