From: Côte des Blancs, Champagne, France
Varietal: Chardonnay
Tasting Notes: These champagnes go against the typical thought process of the grand marque, and instead of manipulating their wine to taste the same year after year, they reflect the nature of their terroir as well as the base vintage year; a philosophy of transparency, you might say. This iteration of ‘Longitude’ is bracingly pure, with zesty grapefruit, pithy lemon, and an impressive undercurrent of ever-unfolding poached lemon confit over toasted brioche that keeps on going and going, leading into a chalky, lifted finish.
Pairing: While fresh seafood platters and oysters are viewed as the quintessential pairing for Blanc de Blancs, the wine's versatility goes beyond the traditional. Think of delicately prepared lobster dishes, where the sweetness of the crustacean's meat melds flawlessly with the Champagne's vibrant, mineral-led notes.
But don't limit yourself to seafood. An unexpected yet delightful pairing is with fried foods. The crisp, effervescent qualities of Blanc de Blancs make it an ideal counterbalance for rich, savory dishes like fried chicken. This intriguing pairing showcases the Champagne's adaptability, bringing out the dish's crispy textures and enhancing the dining experience in surprising ways.
You’re going to want time to enjoy this to the fullest, so we’re sharing an easy-yet-delicious recipe for Lemony Shrimp and Bean Stew by Sue Li. It’ll yield 4 servings, and only take about 30 minutes. Even better, it’s a versatile recipe, and you’ll be able to reuse it with different proteins to your heart's desire.
About. The Larmandier cuvée known as Longitude replaces the wine previously referred to as Blanc de Blancs Extra Brut 1er Cru. The name references the fact that the vineyards are in villages that lie on the same longitudinal plane (along the fourth meridian), including Vertus, Avize, Cramant, Oger and Oiry. Longitude is also an allusion to the length and the very pure, frank and mineral style of these great terroirs, where the chalk is very close to the surface.
