Tasting Notes - Larmandier Bernier (Champagne)

Very brief notes and background details on some Larmandier wines recently tasted............all absolute crackers that can be strongly recommended and I was left wondering why people even bother with Moet and its ilk.

Brut Blanc Traditional Premier Cru NV $70 (Recommended)
A blend of 2000, 2001 and 1999. 85% chardonnay and 15% pinot noir.
"Sharp, acidic, but strangely fruity and floral. Flinty, minerally palate. Like a table wine with bubbles."

Grand Cru Crament 2003 $86 (Recommended)
100% chardonnay from old vines.
"Tangy citrus fruits and definite hints of Belgian Wit beer (citrus, spices). Broad palate with chalk and minerals."

Brut Blanc de Blancs Premier Cru NV $70 (Recommended)
100% chardonnay from Vertus (premier cru) and Cramant, Avize and Oger (all grand cru).
"Sharp, dry, smokey. Very well balanced with a biscuit-like finish."

Rose de Saignee Brut Premier Cru $80 (Recommended)
100% pinot noir.
"Dusty, dirty fruits. Lots of obvious pinot on the nose and palate. Dry, old world style, lots in common with typical red Burgundy."

Terre de Vertus non dose Premier Cru NV $86 (Recommended)
100% old vine chardonnay from a single 50yr+ vineyard in Vertus.
"Bizarre! Big fruit cake nose but drys out in the palate. Retains a core of fruit but this is all about tangy chalk and minerals."

Imports - Angel Rodriguez Verdejo 2006

Region: Catalunya (Spain)
Sub-region / Appelation: Priorat DOC

Wine Background
The variety Verdejo is considered one of only a few genuine noble Spanish whites. It was essentially extinct 30 years ago but Angel Rodriguez clung onto a 1 acre 17th century planting called 'Martinsancho'. He has since grafted material from this vineyard onto a much recently planted 25 acre plot which is where this wine is sourced from.

Price
$27 per bottle

Imports - Domaine Henri Germain 2003 Meursault

Unfortunately good white burg don't come cheap but this is a pretty good example of a entry level Meursault, price notwithstanding!!

Importer Notes
"Clive Coates observes that Germain is always happy to let nature take its course. The Germain's are orientated towards natural viticulture and minimal intervention elevage, which explains the purity of the wines and their ability to age gracefully."

Price is $82 per bottle.

Imports - Domaine Georges Vernay 2004 Cote Rotie 'Blonde Du Seigneur'

Probably the best French wine we currently stock.

Vernay is best known as a viognier / Condrieu specialist but they release some very handy reds as well from 3 hectares in Cote Rotie and 1.5 hectares in Saint Joseph.

Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar - 90pts
"Floral, peppery aromas of raspberry and wild strawberry perked up by a zesty mineral tone. Elegant flavours of sweet red berries, apricot and subtle smoked meat are supported by silky tannins. Finishes racy, sweet and long. This is from the lieu-dit Lancement and includes 8% viognier."

Price is $101 per bottle.

Cloudwine Imports Portfolio

Most of our customer's would be well aware that we largely focus on domestic producers together with a hand picked selection of kiwis. However a good portion of the customer base already has a strong interest in European wines and we figured we might dip the toe into this market.

Don't get us wrong, we would never profess to have the knowledge of this segment that perhaps Prince Wine Store (gasp!) or Ultimo does but nevertheless we deal with a number of importers that can be relied upon to consistently deliver high quality wines AND good value for money (yep - even in the Australian market context).

I suspect the portfolio will never exceed 100 wines but rest assured all bottles will show plenty of character at a very fair price. Our founding portfolio can be viewed below.....

France - Champagne
- Alfred Gratien NV Brut $70

- Drappier NV Carte 'd Or 375ml / 750ml $31 / $58

- Egly Ouriet Grand Cru Blanc De Noirs NV $186

- Gosset Brut Excellence Nv $59

- Jacquesson Cuvee No.731 NV $73

- Larmandier Bernier Brut Traditional Premier Cru NV $82

- Larmandier Bernier Brut Blanc De Blancs Premier Cru NV $67

France - Burgundy
- Domaine Bernard Defaix Chardonnay Chablis AC 2005 $30
- Domaine Paul Pillot Chardonnay Bourgogne Blanc 2005 $29
- Leroy 1999 Bourgogne Pinot Noir $57
- Verget & Domaine Guffens-Heynen 2005 Marcon Villages Chardonnay $30

France - Other Regions
- Chateau de Mattes Sabran Shiraz Grenache 2004 $23 (Corbieres, Midi)
- Domaine Georges Vernay Cote Rotie Shiraz Viognier 2004 $101 (Rhone Valley)
- Tardieu Laurent 2003 Costieres de Nimes Shiraz $29 (Costieres du Gard, Languedoc)
- Tardieu Laurent 2005 Cotes Du Rhone GSM 'Les Becs Fins' $25 (Rhone Valley)

Germany
- Donnhoff Riesling 2003 $27 (Nahe)
- Georg Bruer Riesling 'Sauvage' 2003 $25 (Rheingau)
- Von Buhl Estate Riesling QbA dry 2005 $20 (Pfalz)

Italy
- Cecchi Di Teuzzo Chianti Classico 2004 $34 (Tuscany)
- Conte Loredan Gasparini Prosecco NV Colli Asolani DOC $24 (Veneto)
- Farnese Montepulciano Opis 2000 $38 (Abruzzo)

Spain
- Bodegas Breton Lorinon Rioja Tinto Crianza 2003 $23 (Rioja)
- Bodegas Valdeorra Godello 'Val de Sil' 2003 $28 (Valdeorras)
- El Coto De Rioja Crianza Tempranillo 2003 $23 (Rioja)
- Luque Amontillado $13 (Jerez)
- Luque Pedro Ximinez $13 (Jerez)

USA
- Rex Hill Pinot Noir 2005 $46 (Oregon)