L’Enclume Brut Nature 2013

Wine Description for L’Enclume Brut Nature 2013 by Tarlant

Character

The L’Enclume Brut Nature embodies the purist philosophy of the Tarlant house. As a vintage champagne without dosage, this Blanc de Blancs presents itself in its most uncompromising form – unsweetened, unadorned, authentic. The Tarlant family, resident in Œuilly for twelve generations, counts among the pioneers of the grower champagne movement and consistently prioritises terroir expression over uniformity. The name „L’Enclume“ (the anvil) alludes to the rigour and precision of this approach.

Terroir & Origin

Tarlant manages parcels in the Vallée de la Marne, a region renowned for its cooler climatic conditions and chalk-dominated soils. The Champagne of the 2013 vintage is considered a classic year with vibrant acidity and pronounced minerality – ideal conditions for a Brut Nature that must manage without the buffer of dosage. The chalk soils impart to the Chardonnay that saline tension and depth which characterise great Blanc de Blancs.

Grape Variety & Vinification

Pure Chardonnay from a single vintage, vinified according to the house’s rigorous principles. Tarlant works with spontaneous fermentation, largely eschews sulphur additions and allows the wines time to mature on the lees. Zero dosage demands perfect fruit material and precise timing at disgorgement. At 12% alcohol, the wine displays elegance and tension, the extended lees ageing until release affords it complexity and creamy texture without diluting the incisive clarity of the style.

Food Pairing Suggestions

The saline minerality and bony structure harmonise beautifully with raw oysters, scallops or sashimi. Equally, with smoked fish, goat’s cheese or a simple herb omelette, this champagne reveals its strengths. The absence of dosage makes it the ideal aperitif for purists.