Country: France
Region: Champagne
Color/Style: Sparkling
Grapes: Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Pinot Meunier
SO2: During winemaking
Soil Composition: Clay, Sand, Limestone, Flint
Farming: Organic (certified)
Age of vines: 40 years old on average
Exposure: Mixed
Fining/Filtration: Unfined/Unfiltered
Fun facts: The Tarlant’s Zero cuvée is their calling card and represents roughly 70% on their total production. The organically farmed, hand-harvested fruit comes from nine hectares of estate parcels spread through four villages (Œuilly, Boursault, Celles-lès-Condé, Saint-Agnan) in the Vallée de la Marne. 63 parcels from 31 lieu-dits are each vinified individually and blended after blind tastings to create base or reserve wines according to the vintage. Starting with the 2013 base (commercialized in early 2022), Zéro will be roughly 4% Pinot Blanc, Arbane and Petit Meslier.
Appellation: Champagne
Winemaking: Zero is made from equal parts Pinot Noir, Pinot Meunier and Chardonnay that are sourced from multiple parcels in the Marne Valley. The “zero” in this wine’s name indicates it has no dosage. About 90% of the Tarlant production is bottled without dosage, a very rare and distinct stylistic choice for the region.
Whole-clusters are direct pressed and ferment spontaneously in Burgundian barrels (malolactic fermentation does not occur). 20 to 25mg per liter of sulfur is added at press, occasional additions are also made on reserve wines. The wine then ages in barrel for six months on its lees before blending decisions are made.
The choice of base wine will be made according to blind tastings and usually represents around 60% of the blend. Knowing that the wine will be released five to seven years later, it has to be deemed worthy of standing the test of time. The aging sur lattes varies but is always quite long and cited on the wine’s back label.
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