Champagne Tarlant Cuvée Louis Champagne NV

Located in the heart of the Vallée de la Marne, the Tarlant family's winegrowing story dates back to 1687, and brother and sister proprietors Benoît and Mélanie Tarlant represent the 12th generation of Tarlants to steward their family's 14 hectares. Champagne Tarlant has crafted extraordinary wines since the early 20th century, rooted in tradition and with a fierce commitment to the unique terroir of Champagne. Their philosophy combines respect for the vineyard's natural balance with minimal intervention, resulting in wines that are as expressive as they are refined.

Great-great-great grandfather Louis Tarlant passed down an intense patriotism for the Champagne region to future generations. During his tenure as mayor of Oeuilly, Louis solidified the family's legacy as he played a key role in the Champagne Revolution. At this point in history, large Champagne houses ruled the region and called the shots on pricing for grapes from local growers while greatly supplementing their production with fruit from across areas throughout France and beyond its borders. Some houses even sourced grapes from as far as Portugal to bolster their high volume, which was legal due to the lack of regulation. In learning of these unfair practices, growers revolted by blocking access to the routes into many villages, preventing outside grapes from entering the region. Additionally, the growers united under Louis Tarlant's and others' leadership to establish the AOC Champagne in 1927 and gain worldwide recognition. Promising to never again sell a single grape to the big houses, Louis became one of Champagne's first independent grower-producers and, in 1928, bottled his first wine under Champagne Tarlant. Of their 14 hectares, present-day stewards Benoît and Mélanie have identified 63 individual parcels requiring singular care. Each is vinified separately due to the variety of soils and exposures with the precise intent to express the individual terroirs and continue highlighting Champagne's winegrowing prowess.

The Cuvée Louis is the crème de la crème of their portfolio; an homage to Benoît and Mélanie’s history-making ancestor. Crafted of 50% Chardonnay and 50% Pinot Noir from the single parcel Les Crayons, which Louis planted from 1946 to 1948, the wine is vinified and aged in oak. While Benoît does not halt malolactic fermentation, it rarely occurs in his wines as he believes careful monitoring during pressing and of the fermentation temperatures naturally prevents malolactic fermentation of Champagne's cold-climate, low-PH grapes. Barrels age on the lees for eight months before bottling without dosage. The final blend of each release varies in the composition of base wine versus reserve wine, along with the amount of time spent aging in the bottle before disgorgement. There is remarkable depth in this Champagne, with notes of toasted brioche, ripe stone fruits, and a vibrant mineral finish. Its meticulous production and exceptional balance are prime examples of the authenticity and elegance we love in grower-Champagnes.