Champagne Zero Brut Nature Maison Tarlant

The Champagne Zéro Brut Nature from Tarlant is the signature cuvée and daily obsession of Benoît Tarlant in his own words, the most direct and accessible expression of a family Champagne house whose origins in Oeuilly date back to 1687. Non-vintage, zero dosage, no compromise. This Champagne speaks to lovers of straight, authentic wines. It drinks beautifully as an aperitif for its freshness, yet reveals its full gastronomic dimension at table. A wine of character, uncompromising, expressing the Tarlant style with precision: sincere and resolutely rooted in terroir.

Blend and production

The Zéro is a non-vintage blend composed roughly in equal parts of the three Champagne varieties, typically around 32% Pinot Noir, 32% Chardonnay and 32% Pinot Meunier, completed by 4% of heritage varieties, Petit Meslier, Arbane and Pinot Blanc, a small proportion that adds aromatic complexity and singularity. The base represents about 60% of the harvest vintage, supplemented by 40% reserve wines aged in oak to develop complexity and depth. Grapes come from potentially all 63 parcels of the domaine spread across four villages, Oeuilly, Boursault, Saint-Agnan and Celles-lès-Condé, each vinified separately for maximum flexibility in blend construction. Organic grapes are gently pressed and the juice ferments with wild yeasts in Burgundy oak barrels of various ages, from new to 30 years old. No malolactic fermentation to preserve all natural tension and freshness. Unfiltered, unfined. Zero dosage: 0 grams per litre. This is my daily obsession, in Benoît Tarlant's own words.

Tasting profile

The colour is pale gold with green and golden reflections, limpid and bright, animated by fine persistent bubbles. The nose expresses fresh citrus, green apple, white fruits and fresh bread, with a very clear mineral frame. Dried fruits and brioche notes inherited from oak ageing progressively enrich this bouquet with natural and precise complexity. On the palate, the wine is lively and taut, perfectly dry, driven by fine effervescence and chiselled acidity. Notes of light roasting, apple, chalk and flint traverse the palate with mineral clarity and remarkable precision. The finish is long, saline, with great definition, leaving an impression of purity and remarkable precision. A lively attack, balanced and long according to the Hachette Wine Guide.

The house

Since the reign of Louis XIV, the Tarlant family was already cultivating vines in the Marne valley. Today, Benoît and Mélanie Tarlant, twelfth generation, manage their 14 hectares in Oeuilly under certified organic farming, vinifying each variety from each parcel separately. All production has been zero or extra-brut dosage since 2010, a radical and coherent decision that says everything about the house's conviction. Reserve wines are aged in oak barrels, vintage wines are released after eight to ten years in the cellar at their optimum. The Zéro range is the backbone of this demanding artisanal production, with white, rosé, a magnums version and rare vintage releases.

Food pairing

This Champagne Zéro Brut Nature pairs beautifully with oysters and shellfish, raw or lightly iodised fish, citrus-dressed sea bass tartare, cold langoustines, steamed scallops or fresh cheeses such as quality goat's cheese. It will also be perfect as an aperitif, served between 8 and 10°C, with smoked salmon blini or a few Comté gougères. A Champagne of immediate pleasure and real depth, within reach of all tables and all occasions.