Larmandier-Bernier Terre de Vertus Blanc de Blancs Premier Cru 2017 Wine (75cl)

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A pure and frank expression of Vertus on a well-oriented, mid-slope plot. Very original thanks to its salinity and complexity. An ideal Champagne to start a meal with; its purity makes it a delicate accompaniment for oysters. A very fine match with truffles. May be drunk now or laid down for 5 to 10 years. The 2017 Brut Nature Blanc de Blancs Terre de Vertus 1er Cru is creamy, open-knit and quite seductive. Readers will find a generous, sensual Champagne with plenty of early appeal. Vinification and aging in oak softens the contours. Dried pear, crushed flowers, mint and chamomile build beautifully over time. This is a fine effort in a very challenging year. No dosage. Disgorged: May 2023. The medium yellow 2017 Champagne Premier Cru Terre de Vertus Brut Nature offers notes of fresh pineapple, salty earth, preserved lemon, and nutty fresh pastry. Medium to full-bodied, it has a chalky and structured feel, with more persistence, structure, and a savory aroma, and it would be more tightly bound, though it retains the broad depth of the vintage as well. The mousse is spicy and peppery and accents the structure. It feels nervous, and I wouldn't be surprised to see this show even better in a few more years. Drink 2025-2040. The 2017 Brut Nature Blanc de Blancs Terre de Vertus, which derives from two east-facing plots within the same lieu-dit in Les Barillers, located mid-slope, imparts a very mineral, almost crystalline character. A vineyard that rarely produces powerful wines, even in the context of 2017, it has retained its personality, though it's a little more generous and slightly less focused than the 2016 rendition. Unfurling from the glass with aromas of lemon peel, honeysuckle and oyster shell, it is medium-bodied, racy and saline-tinged.