Tarlant "Brut Tradition" Champagne

91RP

$39.99

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Wine Advocate

Reviewed October 2015

The pale golden NV Champagne Brut Tradition is a lovely, pure, dry, delicate and straightforward, serious champagne with a persistent natural taste and a highly elegant and finesse-full performance on the palate. Made from 56% Pinot Noir, 39% Pinot Meunier and 5% Chardonnay grown on different soil types of the Vallée de la Marne, this medium-bodied, full-flavored and very well-structured champagne has lovely clear apple, lemon, brioche and toffee aromas with a delicate mousseux; it has a slightly herbal and grippy taste with toffee flavors in the aftertaste, and should be served in between 4-5 years. The wine I tasted was disgorged in November 2013 with six grams per liter of sugar and was even more delicious the second day. Compared to the Réserve, the Tradition is less puristic but more rich and flavored (not only but mostly with toffee). It's not a question of quality but of style. It's up to you to decide which of the fraternal twins you like more. (SR)

Professional Reviews

Vinous

Review Date: 12/2010

The NV Brut Tradition is a beautiful entry-level wine graced with an open, exquisite bouquet and layers of warm, radiant fruit. Peaches, pears and hazelnuts linger on the pretty finish. The Brut Tradition is 55% Pinot Noir, 37% Pinot Meunier and 8% Chardonnay, but it is the base vintage, in this case 2003, that marks the wine quite noticeably. This bottle was disgorged in July 2009, and dosage was 6 grams per liter. (AG)

Wine Spectator

Review Date: 11/2010

Loaded with toast, citrus, malt and mineral flavors, this full-throttle, lithe bubbly is backed by a crisp structure. Ends with a mouthwatering impression. (BS)

Staff Reviews

Gary Westby

K&L Buyer

The Tarlant "Brut Tradition" Champagne combines serious vinosity with bright refreshment like few other bottles ever do. If you love Champagne like Krug and Bollinger, this is a must try. The current batch is based on 2009, and has been aged longer on the lees than some of the vintage Champagne that we carry; it was disgorged in February of 2015. It is composed of 56% Pinot Noir, 39% Meunier and 5% Chardonnay, all from the estate. The feature that makes this Champagne so interesting is the deep reserves that are used - all barrel aged stuff that really makes this Champagne rub the Krug spot for me.

Scott Beckerley

I just tasted this again today, 17 May, 2016, and it is just stunning! Candied ginger, pears and pine nuts on the nose. Fleshes out on the palate with white and yellow fruits and a very nutty finish that lingers with minerality due to the low 6 grams of dosage. Clean. Don't miss it! It's a bargain at 40 dollars!

Notes

This rich, nutty Champagne has great texture and length. The varietal blend is Pinot Noir (56%), Pinot Meunier (39%) and Chardonnay (5%) from estate vineyards in Oeuilly (Vallée de la Marne) on the hillsides. The Tarlant family uses organic practices in the vineyard--but they are very coy about calling themselves organic, no doubt due to the family's prominence in the vignerons' association in Champagne. You can taste the masculine power of the Pinot Noir, and red cherry fruit features prominently on the mid-palate. The house of Tarlant is one of a handful of 'cult' producers in Champagne, but unlike most 'cult' producers, they have been around since 1687. (Gary Westby, K&L Champagne Buyer)

Details

Origin	Champagne, France
Type/Varietal	Other White Wines
SKU	1002035