Champagne Tarlant Reserve Brut

In 1687, according to local records, Pierre TARLANT (1648-1744) began cultivating vineyards. He was the first winegrower, in Gland, in the Aisne district. Then Michel Tarlant (1687-1744) and his son Michel (1716-1773) both continued in the direction that was to be the destiny of future generations.

In 1780, Louis Tarlant (1750-1806) and his wife Marie-Madeleine went to live in Oeuilly in the Marne, and started planting their vineyards, an inheritance which was to be handed down from generation to generation.

In 1814 Napoleon's army was in retreat and the Russians came to Champagne. During this Cossack invasion Louis Honore Roch Tarlant (1814-1872), son of Louis Nicolas Tarlant (1779-1825) and Marie Catherine, was born. The family had fled the Russians and young Louis was born behind a rock on Festigny's Hill. To this very day anyone out for a walk can come across Tarlant's rock.

At the time the Tarlant vineyards were cultivated by the whole family, especially Alexis Theodore Tarlant (1842-1928) and his wife Julie, who created a white and a red wine mainly sold in Parisian inns and cabarets.

In 1911 Louis Adrien Tarlant (1878-1960) took part in the Champagne Revolution" to recognise the AOC worldwide. Louis, as Mayor of Oeuilly, and his colleagues were instrumental in specifying the AOC Champagne area in 1927.

The First World War devasted the vineyards, but despite the seven long years when the Patriarch Louis was away, the destiny of the Tarlant family remained unchanged. Upon his return, little by little he recreated the estate and decided with his wife Julia to create the first Cuvee Tarlant.

When Louis returned he rebuilt everything and with his wife Julia decided to create the first Cuvee Tarlant. The Tirage (bottling) began in 1928 and in 1929 they started marketing it under the name of Carte Blanche. Between the two world wars this Cuvee became a success in the home market.

During the harvest in September 1938, Georges Tarlant (1908-2008) was drafted into the Army. His wife, Germaine, helped by her father-in-law Louis and son Georges (1928-Vintage_2007) did all they could to save the vineyards damaged by the Second World War.

In November 1945, when his father returned, Georges Tarlant became a winemaker in his own right, buying several plots of vines. With Denise, his wife, they lived through the real expansion of Champagne in the 50s. They perpetuated the family tradition and adopted with intelligence the improvements available in winemaking machinery.

From 1972, their son Jean-Mary Tarlant (1951-) and Micheline his wife started to prove themselves in the family estate. They have two children, Benoit (1976-) and Melanie (1980-) who joined them in the business at the dawn of the 21st century.

Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Pinot Meunier

Grapes grow in the villages of Œuilly, Boursault, Celles-lès-Condé, and Saint-Agnan. Vines average age is 40 years. Minimum soil disturbance, shallow ploughing under the rows and natural grass cover in between the rows. Herbotherapy treatments, Poussard pruning. Green manure or organic fertilisers

Traditional vinification, slow press, spontaneous fermentation and 6 months on the lees in French oak-barrel, parcel by parcel. No malolactic fermentation. No fining.

Dosage: 6g per litre

Golden, with intense pearly mousse and plenty of finesse. Sustained bouquet with scents of apple, peach and pear. The freshness of Chardonnay and the richness of the Pinot. The texture is supple and elegant.