Larmandier-Bernier Rose de Saignee Premier Cru Champagne

Saignée literally means ‘to bleed’. In winemaking parlance, it means to draw the free-run juice of a grape, off the grape skins typically prior to, or shortly after, the start of fermentation. In this case, the grapes (100% Pinot Noir) are allowed to macerate for several days before the juice is drawn off and it is this ‘soak’ that gives the colour and much of the body and flavour to the wine. This technique is now extremely rare in Champagne—it is a demanding method of vinification that requires grapes with an excellent degree of maturity. Hence most rosé (in Champagne) is made by the addition of a little red wine. This bottling is drawn entirely from what is thought to be the oldest Pinot Noir vines in Vertus, and one of the very last 100% Pinot vineyards. As with all of Larmandier’s wines it’s naturally fermented. Larmandier raises part of this cuvée in a Nomblot concrete egg and partly in stainless steel (and more recently he has been trialling amphora as well).
A fluffy mousse dissipates over a salmon pink coloured base that’s threaded by an exceptionally fine and persistent stream of bubbles. Jumping out of the glass are alluring scents of strawberries, subtle blood orange and raspberry which meld into yeast lees, baked bread and faint cashew notes. Delicious strawberry, raspberry and subtle blood orange fruits have a creamy feel over a back drop of yeast lees, bready characters and traces of sherbet. Dry refreshing finish with mouth watering acidity leading into a long creamed strawberry conclusion.
Alc. 12.5%