2015 Larmandier-Bernier Les Chemins d'Avize Grand Cru Champagne – 96 Points

96 POINTS THE WINE FRONT! AN EXTRAORDINARY GRAND CRU CHAMPAGNE FROM ONE OF THE WORLD'S GREATEST CHARDONNAY VILLAGES!

96 Points The Wine Front | 95 Points Vinous | 94+ Points The Wine Advocate

2015 Larmandier-Bernier Les Chemins d'Avize Grand Cru Extra Brut – Champagne, France

RRP $460 per bottle

If you love the world's greatest Chardonnays, this is one of those extraordinary Champagnes that deserves a place in your cellar.

Forget Champagne simply as a celebratory sparkling wine. The finest grower Champagnes are among the world's most profound expressions of terroir, and the 2015 Larmandier-Bernier Les Chemins d'Avize is a magnificent example.

This is serious Grand Cru Chardonnay.

Produced from two tiny old-vine parcels in the legendary village of Avize, this remarkable Champagne combines exceptional vineyard pedigree, biodynamic farming, traditional oak fermentation and extraordinary mineral precision.

And the reviews are exceptional.

96 POINTS – MIKE BENNIE, THE WINE FRONT

95 POINTS – ANTONIO GALLONI, VINOUS

94+ POINTS – WILLIAM KELLEY, THE WINE ADVOCATE

Three of the world's most respected wine publications have recognised the remarkable quality of this wine.

But the story behind the bottle is even more compelling.

Grand Cru Avize – One of Champagne's Greatest Terroirs

Avize is one of the most celebrated Chardonnay villages in the world.

Located in the Côte des Blancs, its Grand Cru vineyards produce Champagnes of extraordinary precision, elegance and mineral complexity.

The defining feature is chalk.

Here, the underlying chalk approaches the surface, creating an environment in which Chardonnay can develop remarkable concentration while retaining freshness and tension.

The greatest Avize Champagnes possess an unmistakable personality.

Citrus purity.

Beautiful floral perfume.

Extraordinary chalky minerality.

And an exceptionally long, saline finish.

Les Chemins d'Avize captures these characteristics with remarkable intensity.

Two Historic Vineyards – Vines Planted in 1955 and 1960

What makes this Champagne particularly special is its vineyard origin.

Les Chemins d'Avize is produced from two tiny parcels in the heart of Grand Cru Avize.

Chemin de Plivot – planted in 1955.

Chemin de Flavigny – planted in 1960.

Both vineyards lie on the lower slopes of Avize, where the chalk is exceptionally close to the surface.

These are old vines with decades of history.

They have developed extensive root systems and a remarkable relationship with their environment.

The resulting Chardonnay possesses concentration, depth and the distinctive mineral character that defines this extraordinary village.

This is not a broad regional blend. It is a precise expression of two exceptional Grand Cru vineyard parcels.

Larmandier-Bernier – One of the Great Grower Champagne Estates

Larmandier-Bernier has become one of the most respected names in the world of grower Champagne.

Based in Vertus, the family estate has established an international reputation for producing wines of extraordinary purity and vineyard expression.

Pierre and Sophie Larmandier were pioneers of biodynamic viticulture in Champagne, adopting these principles in 1999.

Their philosophy places enormous importance on healthy soils, carefully cultivated vineyards and allowing the natural character of each site to emerge.

Rather than imposing a uniform house style, Larmandier-Bernier produces Champagnes that celebrate the individuality of their vineyards.

The estate's finest wines are renowned for their elegance, mineral precision and extraordinary complexity.

And Les Chemins d'Avize is one of its most compelling achievements.

The 2015 Vintage – Richness, Power and Beautiful Precision

The 2015 growing season was notably warm and dry in Champagne.

The finest vineyards produced wines with concentration, ripe fruit and generous texture.

In the hands of a talented grower, these characteristics could be balanced by the natural freshness and mineral structure of exceptional Chardonnay terroir.

That is exactly what makes the 2015 Les Chemins d'Avize so fascinating.

Compared with a particularly lean or austere Champagne vintage, the 2015 possesses a broader, more generous personality.

But the extraordinary chalk terroir of Avize provides focus.

The result is a Champagne that combines richness with tension.

Power with delicacy.

And beautifully ripe fruit with exceptional mineral precision.

It is a magnificent expression of the 2015 vintage through the lens of Grand Cru Avize.

Lemon Confit, Marzipan, Jasmine Tea and Extraordinary Saline Minerality

The critics' tasting notes paint a fascinating picture of this Champagne.

Mike Bennie of The Wine Front identifies sea spray, green apple, lime, sugared almonds, jasmine tea, ginger and a remarkably persistent saline finish.

Antonio Galloni of Vinous highlights lemon confit, marzipan, dried flowers, chamomile, sage and spice.

William Kelley of The Wine Advocate notes citrus oil, verbena, fresh pastry, vanilla and herbs.

Together, these descriptions reveal a Champagne of exceptional complexity.

There is beautiful citrus freshness.

Aromatic delicacy.

Toasted-nut and pastry complexity.

Savoury herbal character.

And that extraordinary mineral tension that makes great Avize Chardonnay so captivating.

The palate is concentrated and beautifully textured, with fine bubbles, vibrant acidity and a long, persistent finish.

This is a Champagne that deserves to be enjoyed slowly, allowing its remarkable complexity to unfold in the glass.

Traditional Winemaking – Just 2 Grams per Litre Dosage

Larmandier-Bernier approaches winemaking with extraordinary sensitivity.

The Chardonnay is gently pressed before undergoing fermentation in small, neutral oak barrels.

Indigenous yeasts allow fermentation to proceed naturally.

The wine matures on its lees, developing additional texture and complexity before bottling for secondary fermentation.

For the 2015 release, the Champagne spent at least five years ageing in bottle before disgorgement.

Disgorged September 2022.

And the dosage?

Just 2 grams per litre.

This is Extra Brut Champagne at its finest.

The exceptionally restrained dosage preserves the wine's natural balance, allowing the fruit, acidity and extraordinary chalk terroir to shine.

96 Points – Mike Bennie, The Wine Front

95 Points – Antonio Galloni, Vinous

94+ Points – William Kelley, The Wine Advocate

A Champagne for Lovers of Great White Burgundy

If you love the greatest Chardonnays of Puligny-Montrachet, Chassagne-Montrachet or Meursault, Les Chemins d'Avize is a Champagne that deserves serious attention.

The similarities are compelling.

Exceptional vineyard sites.

Old vines.

Thoughtful oak fermentation.

Remarkable texture.

And an extraordinary ability to express terroir.

But Avize adds something entirely its own.

The precision of its chalky soils.

The extraordinary tension of its Chardonnay.

And the complexity created through traditional-method Champagne production.

This is sparkling wine with the depth and sophistication of one of the world's greatest white wines.

Exceptional Food Pairings

This is a Champagne for serious dining.

Its depth, texture and mineral precision make it an extraordinary partner for delicately roasted lobster.

It would also be magnificent with seared scallops, crab, turbot or beautifully prepared white fish.

The savoury complexity makes it an excellent match for roast chicken, mushroom dishes and aged Comté.

For a particularly memorable experience, serve it with lobster and a delicate butter sauce.

Use a generous white wine glass rather than a narrow flute. This Champagne deserves room to express itself.

A Champagne Worth Cellaring

The 2015 Les Chemins d'Avize has the structure and concentration to reward careful cellaring.

Its natural acidity, old-vine depth and extraordinary mineral character provide an excellent foundation for further development.

With time, the wine may develop additional toasted-nut, pastry and savoury complexity.

Jeb Dunnuck's published drinking window extends from 2025 to 2045.

This is a Champagne for an exceptional occasion today, or a remarkable addition to a serious cellar.

Why We Love This Champagne at Liquid Vibe

At Liquid Vibe, we are constantly searching for wines that represent the absolute pinnacle of quality from the world's greatest producers.

And this is one of them.

First, there is the estate.

Larmandier-Bernier – one of Champagne's greatest independent growers.

Then there is the vineyard.

Grand Cru Avize – one of the world's most extraordinary Chardonnay terroirs.

Then there are the vines.

Planted in 1955 and 1960.

Then there is the winemaking.

Biodynamic viticulture, indigenous fermentation, neutral oak, extended lees maturation and just 2 grams per litre dosage.

And finally, there are the extraordinary critic scores.

96 POINTS THE WINE FRONT.

95 POINTS VINOUS.

94+ POINTS THE WINE ADVOCATE.

At $460 per bottle, this is a serious Champagne for serious wine enthusiasts.

But when you consider the pedigree of the vineyards, the reputation of the producer and the remarkable critical recognition, its appeal becomes obvious.

If you love extraordinary Chardonnay, Grand Cru Champagne or the finest wines from independent growers, this is a bottle you absolutely need to experience.

GRAND CRU AVIZE. OLD-VINE CHARDONNAY. BIODYNAMIC VITICULTURE. 96 POINTS THE WINE FRONT.

2015 Larmandier-Bernier Les Chemins d'Avize is a magnificent Champagne and one we are absolutely delighted to recommend at Liquid Vibe.

Wine Details

• Producer: Larmandier-Bernier

• Wine: Les Chemins d'Avize Grand Cru Extra Brut Blanc de Blancs

• Vintage: 2015

• Region: Champagne, France

• Village: Avize, Côte des Blancs

• Classification: Grand Cru

• Grape Variety: 100% Chardonnay

• Vineyards: Chemin de Plivot and Chemin de Flavigny

• Vine Plantings: 1955 and 1960

• Viticulture: Biodynamic

• Fermentation: Indigenous yeasts, neutral oak barrels

• Style: Extra Brut Vintage Blanc de Blancs

• Dosage: 2 g/L

• Disgorgement: September 2022 for the reviewed release

• Critic Scores: 96 Points The Wine Front | 95 Points Vinous | 94+ Points The Wine Advocate

• RRP: $460 per bottle

• Food Pairing: Lobster, scallops, crab, turbot, roast chicken, mushrooms and aged Comté

• Serving Temperature: Approximately 10–12°C

• Cellaring: Enjoy now or cellar carefully; published guidance extends to 2045