Particules Crayeuses is Waris-Larmandier’s flagship Blanc de Blancs cuvée, sourced from the estate’s biodynamically farmed, old-vine chardonnay plots in the Grand Cru villages of Chouilly, Cramant, Avize, Oger, and Le Mesnil-sur-Oger in the Côte des Blancs. The Waris-Larmandier family utilizes natural and regenerative agricultural practices. Particules Crayeuses is certified organic and biodynamic Champagne. The Waris-Larmandier style is terroir-focused, understated, structured, and ultra-elegant.

Vinification – Grapes are hand-harvested and crushed in a traditional 4000 kg vertical wooden basket press; only free-run juice is used for the primary fermentation. Particules Crayeuses is barrel-fermented with native yeasts in 600L demi-muid Burgundy barrels and Avize Champagne barrels. Malolactic fermentation is spontaneous following alcoholic fermentation. It is usually a two vintage blend with the addition of 30% of wine from a solera started in the 2013 vintage. The base wines are aged six to 18 months befor

Located in Avize, in the heart of the Côte des Blancs,

Waris-Larmandier Champagne was founded in 1989 by 5th generation grower, Marie-Hélène Larmandier, and her husband, Vincent Waris. Following Vincent’s passing, Marie-Hélène continued the family business while also managing her family estate of Guy Larmandier with her brother. Our story and relationship start with the next generation at Waris-Larmandier, led by eldest-son Jean-Philippe Waris. He took charge of the vineyards and winemaking in 2009, after working with Benoît Lahaye to learn biodynamic farming, among other lessons. Jean-Philippe immediately began converting his family’s 9ha of old-vine vineyards in 2011, utilizing biodynamic and regenerative farming principles. Waris-Larmandier achieved their biodynamic certification from Demeter in 2020.

Today, he is joined by his architect brother, Pierre-Louis, and sister Inès, a designer and sculptor. The artistically minded siblings have all recently returned to their native village of Avize, not only to contribute to the family winery but also to transform their way of life, organized around their artistic and agrarian sensibilities. Together, with their mother, they form the racines de trois or “three roots” of Waris-Larmandier, each contributing a unique piece to the artistic vision of this young, dynamic Champagne domaine. Inès designed the distinctive floral labels in tribute to her mother’s famous flower boxes, which beautifully adorn their whitewashed family home in the vineyards at the entrance to the quaint Avize village.

Waris-Larmandier owns prime, old-vine vineyards of Grand Cru chardonnay in the Côte des Blancs, located in the villages of Chouilly, Cramant, Avize, Oger, and Le Mesnil-sur-Oger. They also farm a smaller percentage of pinot noir and pinot meunier vineyards in the Montagne de Reims as well as a few small plots in the Côte des Bar and Aube. Specializing in Blanc de Blancs Champagne, the Waris-Larmandier style is understated, structured, and ultra-elegant.

Their family history is a similar story to other winemaking families in small, famous wine regions; they are related to everyone. Marie-Hélène is, of course, from the famous Larmandier family, her cousins own Larmandier-Bernier in Vertus, and her brother is the winemaker for their family winery Guy Larmandier. Also, the Gimonnets of Cuis are cousins. The late Vincent Waris’ side of the family includes his brother who produces the Waris-Hubert label, also in the village of Avize where his ancestors settled from Finland five generations ago. Such is a family history in Champagne.