Champagne Tarlant Brut Tradition
The family traces its origins to 1687 when Pierre Tarlant cultivated his first vineyards in Aisne. Some 100 years later, they moved to the village of Oeuilly in the Marne Valley where they have remained since 1780. Today, 12th generation Benoit and Melanie Tarlant are in charge. I have met them twice including in the spring of 2017 which, unfortunately, the severe frost wiped out practically their entire production. Wine, we must remember, is an agricultural produce heavily depended on the whims of Mother Nature. The base wine of this Brut Tradition is the 2012 vintage and comprised of 56% pinor noir, 39% pinot meunier and 5% chardonnay. The dosage is 7 gm and the wine was aged on lees in the bottle for four years and disgorged in June 2017. Ripe appley/ripe citrussy fruit. About full-bodied, zesty and without any heaviness. Sumptuous for a Brut. Enjoyable as an aperitif and with food including tempura, Cantonese dim sum, pakora, Korean seafood pancake and shellfish.