2016 Larmandier-Bernier Les Chemins d'Avize Grand Cru Champagne – 96 Points

🥂 96 POINTS THE WINE ADVOCATE! AN EXTRAORDINARY GRAND CRU CHAMPAGNE FROM THE LEGENDARY CHALK VINEYARDS OF AVIZE!

96 Points – The Wine Advocate | 94 Points – Vinous

2016 Larmandier-Bernier Les Chemins d'Avize Grand Cru Extra Brut Blanc de Blancs – Champagne, France

RRP $460 per bottle

If you love the greatest Chardonnay wines in the world, particularly the extraordinary precision, complexity and mineral intensity of Grand Cru Champagne, this is a bottle you absolutely need to experience.

The 2016 Larmandier-Bernier Les Chemins d'Avize is one of the most remarkable wines in this extraordinary grower's portfolio.

Produced entirely from Chardonnay grown in two tiny, historic Grand Cru vineyard parcels in Avize, this is Champagne of exceptional pedigree.

Old vines planted in 1955 and 1960.

Extraordinary chalk soils.

Biodynamic viticulture.

Traditional fermentation in oak.

Extended maturation.

And an exceptionally restrained dosage of just 2 grams per litre.

This is not Champagne made to impress through sweetness, excessive richness or a famous luxury label.

It is Champagne that celebrates one of the world's greatest Chardonnay terroirs.

The result is a wine of extraordinary precision, concentration and mineral complexity.

And the critics have recognised its exceptional quality.

96 POINTS – THE WINE ADVOCATE.

94 POINTS – ANTONIO GALLONI, VINOUS.

For serious Champagne enthusiasts, these are outstanding credentials.

But the real fascination lies in the vineyards.

Larmandier-Bernier – One of Champagne's Greatest Independent Growers

Larmandier-Bernier is one of the most respected names in contemporary grower Champagne.

Based in Vertus, in the Côte des Blancs, the family has established an extraordinary reputation for producing Champagnes that express the character of their vineyards with remarkable clarity.

Pierre and Sophie Larmandier helped transform the estate into one of Champagne's great references for terroir-driven winemaking.

The family embraced biodynamic farming in 1999, long before such practices became widely fashionable in the region.

Their philosophy places the vineyard at the centre of everything.

Healthy soils.

Naturally balanced vines.

Carefully cultivated fruit.

And sensitive winemaking that allows the character of each vineyard to shine.

Today, Larmandier-Bernier is internationally admired for the purity, precision and extraordinary mineral complexity of its Champagnes.

And Les Chemins d'Avize is among the most compelling expressions of that philosophy.

Grand Cru Avize – One of the World's Greatest Chardonnay Terroirs

Avize is one of the legendary villages of the Côte des Blancs.

Its Grand Cru vineyards are responsible for some of the most extraordinary Chardonnay Champagnes ever produced.

The village is renowned for wines that combine exceptional mineral precision with structure, depth and remarkable ageing potential.

Chalk plays an essential role.

The underlying geology creates a distinctive environment for Chardonnay, contributing to the remarkable tension and character associated with the village's finest wines.

Les Chemins d'Avize comes from two tiny parcels:

Chemin de Plivot – planted in 1955.

Chemin de Flavigny – planted in 1960.

Both are situated on the lower slopes of Avize, where the chalk lies beneath an exceptionally thin layer of topsoil.

These are not ordinary vineyard sites.

The vines have spent decades developing extensive root systems and adapting to their demanding environment.

Their age and the character of the terroir provide the foundation for a Champagne of exceptional concentration and individuality.

This is one of the most compelling examples of why the finest Grand Cru Champagne should be considered alongside the world's greatest white wines.

2016 – A Vintage of Extraordinary Precision

The 2016 growing season was challenging in Champagne.

Frost, disease pressure and variable weather affected yields across the region.

But the finest growers were able to produce wines of remarkable character through careful vineyard management and fruit selection.

At Les Chemins d'Avize, the old vines and slower-ripening vineyard sites contributed to a particularly distinctive wine.

The result is a Champagne with beautiful acidity, remarkable mineral definition and considerable concentration.

The Wine Advocate described the 2016 as a particularly successful release, noting its tension, structure and exceptional length.

This is Champagne with genuine power, but also extraordinary elegance.

Marzipan, Lemon Zest, Baked Bread & Extraordinary Chalky Minerality

The 2016 Les Chemins d'Avize possesses a fascinating aromatic profile.

The Wine Advocate identifies marzipan, baked bread, lemon zest and beeswax among its defining characteristics.

These are complemented by the savoury, mineral personality that makes great Avize Chardonnay so distinctive.

Think citrus peel, toasted almonds, delicate pastry and white flowers.

There is beautiful depth.

But also remarkable freshness.

The palate is structured and precise, with concentrated fruit, vivid acidity and an exceptionally fine mousse.

The mineral character is particularly compelling.

Chalky.

Saline.

Focused.

And wonderfully persistent.

This is a Champagne that combines the complexity of mature Chardonnay with the energy and precision of an exceptional Grand Cru vineyard.

The finish is long, savoury and beautifully defined.

Traditional Winemaking – Extraordinary Attention to Detail

The winemaking behind Les Chemins d'Avize is deliberately sensitive.

The fruit is fermented in oak vessels, including Stockinger foudres and barrels of various sizes.

The wine matures on its lees for approximately ten months before bottling for secondary fermentation.

Extended ageing in bottle then develops additional complexity and texture.

For the April 2024 disgorgement, the wine was finished with just 2 grams per litre dosage.

This exceptionally restrained addition allows the natural character of the Chardonnay and chalk terroir to remain beautifully defined.

There is no excessive sweetness.

No heavy-handed oak character.

And no attempt to disguise the individuality of the vineyard.

Everything is directed towards purity, precision and the extraordinary expression of Grand Cru Avize.

96 Points – The Wine Advocate

A 96-point Grand Cru Champagne from one of the region's most respected independent growers is a serious proposition for collectors and Chardonnay enthusiasts alike.

94 Points – Vinous

Two outstanding reviews from internationally respected critics reinforce the extraordinary quality of this release.

A Champagne for Lovers of Great White Burgundy

One of the most fascinating things about Les Chemins d'Avize is its appeal to enthusiasts of great white Burgundy.

If you love the extraordinary Chardonnay wines of Puligny-Montrachet, Chassagne-Montrachet or Meursault, this is a Champagne that deserves your attention.

The comparison is not simply about grape variety.

It is about the importance of terroir.

Old vines.

Exceptional vineyards.

Thoughtful winemaking.

And the ability of Chardonnay to express its origins with extraordinary precision.

Les Chemins d'Avize combines these qualities with the complexity and finesse of traditional-method Champagne.

This is sparkling wine with the depth, structure and individuality of a truly great white wine.

An Extraordinary Champagne for Fine Dining

Les Chemins d'Avize is a magnificent Champagne for the dinner table.

Its combination of mineral precision, savoury complexity and beautifully integrated texture makes it particularly suited to exceptional seafood.

Think delicately roasted lobster.

Seared scallops.

Premium crab.

Turbot.

And beautifully prepared white fish.

The wine's depth and structure also make it a wonderful partner for roast chicken, mushroom dishes and carefully aged Comté.

For something particularly memorable, serve it with lobster in a delicate butter sauce.

This is Champagne that deserves to be treated with the same respect as a great Grand Cru white Burgundy.

Serve it in a generous white wine glass and allow it time to develop.

A Serious Champagne for the Cellar

The 2016 Les Chemins d'Avize is a compelling wine for collectors.

Its old-vine concentration, remarkable acidity and extended lees maturation provide a strong foundation for further development.

The Wine Advocate's published drinking guidance for the April 2024 disgorgement extends from 2024 to 2040.

With appropriate storage, the wine has the potential to develop additional layers of savoury complexity while retaining its remarkable mineral character.

This is a Champagne worth buying for an exceptional occasion – or placing in the cellar for years to come.

Why We Love This Champagne at Liquid Vibe

At Liquid Vibe, we are constantly searching for wines that represent the extraordinary heights of quality achievable by the world's finest producers.

And the 2016 Larmandier-Bernier Les Chemins d'Avize is exactly that.

First, there is the producer.

Larmandier-Bernier, one of the great names in grower Champagne.

Then there is the terroir.

Grand Cru Avize, one of the world's most celebrated Chardonnay villages.

Then there are the vineyards.

Old vines planted in 1955 and 1960.

Then there is the winemaking.

Biodynamic viticulture, thoughtful oak fermentation, extended maturation and just 2 grams per litre dosage.

And finally, there is the extraordinary critical recognition.

96 POINTS – THE WINE ADVOCATE.

94 POINTS – VINOUS.

At $460 a bottle, this is undoubtedly a serious Champagne.

But this is also one of the finest expressions of Grand Cru Chardonnay from one of Champagne's most respected independent growers.

If you love extraordinary Chardonnay, the finest grower Champagnes or wines that express their vineyards with exceptional precision, this is a bottle you absolutely need to experience.

GRAND CRU AVIZE. OLD-VINE CHARDONNAY. BIODYNAMIC VITICULTURE. 2 G/L DOSAGE. 96 POINTS THE WINE ADVOCATE.

2016 Larmandier-Bernier Les Chemins d'Avize is an extraordinary Champagne – and one we are delighted to recommend at Liquid Vibe.

Wine Details

• Producer: Larmandier-Bernier

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

• Vintage: 2016

• 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: Oak foudres and barrels

• Lees Maturation: Approximately 10 months before bottling, followed by extended bottle ageing

• Dosage: 2 g/L

• Style: Extra Brut Vintage Blanc de Blancs Champagne

• Disgorgement: April 2024 for the reviewed release

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

• RRP: $460 per bottle

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

• Serving Temperature: Approximately 10–12°C

• Cellaring: Published drinking window 2024–2040 for the reviewed disgorgement