1996 Tarlant Brut Nature "Cuvée Louis", Champagne, France

ABOUT THIS WINE

An rare Champagne from the village of Œuilly in the Vallée de la Marne. A blend of 50% Chardonnay and 50% Pinot Noir from the Les Crayons Lieu-dit. Soils here are exceptionally chalky with a thin, clay-influenced top soils. The massale-selection comes from vines planted primarily 1946–1948. The cuvée is named for Louis Tarlant, an ancestor who was the first in the family to bottle estate Champagne in 1928 and who helped establish the Les Crayons vineyard. The family does utilize organic farming practices, but they are not currently certified organic.

The grapes were gently pressed and the base wine underwent spontaneous fermentation in Burgundy barrels with native yeasts. Tarlant blocked malolactic fermentation, preserving the formidable acidity of the 1996 vintage. The wine was bottled in spring 1997 and then remained on its lees for approximately 26-27 years before disgorgement. It received zero dosage, therefore it is Brut Nature.

ABOUT THIS PRODUCER

Champagne Tarlant is a historic, family-run grower estate based in Œuilly in the Vallée de la Marne. The Tarlant family has been growing vines since 1687, with 12 generations shaping the domaine. Today, siblings Benoît and Mélanie Tarlant lead the estate with a strong focus on terroir, sustainability, and expressing the individuality of their vineyards.

Tarlant farms a diverse collection of sites with soils ranging from chalk and limestone to clay and sand. In the vineyard, the family favors natural grass cover, minimal soil disturbance, organic fertilizers, and plant-based treatments. Old vines and massale selections play an important role, particularly in their top single-vineyard cuvées.

In the cellar, Tarlant takes a low-intervention approach, often using native-yeast fermentation, avoiding malolactic fermentation, and allowing the wines extended time on the lees. The estate is especially known for its zero-dosage Champagnes, producing wines that are dry, vinous, mineral, and energetic. At its core, Tarlant treats Champagne as a wine of terroir first, emphasizing vineyard character over a standardized house style.