Cuvée Louis, Brut Nature Millésime 1996

Wine Description for Cuvée Louis Brut Nature Millésime 1996 by Tarlant

Colour & Appearance

Deep golden yellow with amber reflexes, bearing witness to nearly three decades of maturation. The mousse presents itself as fine and persistent – a hallmark of the vintage’s extraordinary quality.

Nose

A fascinating paradox: this 28-year-old Champagne presents itself with disconcerting freshness. The bouquet oscillates between mature pastry – orange brioche, roasted nuts – and youthful vibrancy with citrus zests, iodine notes and sea breeze. Added to this are white and red berries, soft apricots and ripe yellow apples. This balance between youth and maturity feels seamlessly integrated.

Palate

Captivating in its complexity: the legendary acidity of the 1996 vintage still shows razor-sharp with lemon zests and lemon pips, combined with saline minerals. Simultaneously, creamy elegance, candied fruits and beeswax unfold. As warmth builds in the glass, the Pinot Noir emerges with red tones, whilst the Chardonnay contributes yellow fruit notes. In the final sip, true maturity reveals itself: walnuts, cinnamon and a whisper of finest Fino.

Finish

Long, complex and carried by a vibrant minerality. The acidity structure lends the finale endless precision, whilst delicate nut aromas linger.

Terroir & Origin

From the Lieu-dit Les Crayons in Œuilly on the Marne, 90 metres elevation, 12% east-west slope. The subsoil of pure Campanian chalk and proximity to the cool Marne shape the character. The vines were planted as Sélection Massale between 1946 and 1948 by the Tarlant family.

Grape Variety & Vinification

50% each Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. Spontaneous fermentation in Burgundian oak barrels, eight months on lees, no malolactic fermentation, unfiltered. Bottling spring 1997, disgorgement after 26 years in June 2023. Brut Nature – zero grams dosage.

Food Pairing Suggestions

Scallops in nut butter, smoked salmon, oysters, langoustines, turbot with Champagne sauce, Comté or aged Gruyère. Also sublime as a meditative experience on its own.

Special Characteristics

A Champagne that redefines all expectations of maturity and freshness. Siblings Mélanie and Benoît Tarlant deliberately waited 28 years until this wine reached its perfect equilibrium. The mythical 1996 vintage with its extraordinary acidity structure demonstrates here why it is regarded as one of the greatest of the 20th century. Legendary potential.