Larmandier-Bernier 2016 Chemins d'Avize Grand Cru Blanc de Blancs Extra Brut
My note for the 2016 Avise reads "pretty damn nice!" This is from a very small plot purchased in 1992, of only 0.4 hectares! The press at Larmandier-Bernier was in fact too big for this small amount of fruit, so they bought two 4,000 kilo presses instead of an 8,000 kilo press! In the end, they wanted to try to press more parcel by parcel, so investing in the smaller presses was a choice that made a lot of sense. This is a flatter part of the Côte des Blancs, with no topsoil and almost all chalk. Arthur was careful to note that here in the Côte des Blancs the flat part is not like in a valley (for example in Burgundy), and is not characterized by having richer soil. Quite the contrary here, it's actually the most eroded. 2016 has 2g/l of dosage. A lovely wine on the nose, mid-palate, and through the finish. We only wish they made more!