L’Enclume, Brut Nature 2011

Wine Description for L’Enclume Brut Nature 2011 by Tarlant

Colour & Appearance

Pale golden yellow with amber reflexes. The perlage is fine and persistent after ten years on the lees, but more delicate than in young Champagnes – a sign of great maturity.

Nose

Fascinatingly complex: roasted hazelnuts, brioche and honeycomb meet stone fruit and a pronounced mineral flint tone, attributable to the silex subsoil. With air, notes of quince, dried apricots and a fine iodine-salinity develop.

Palate

Remarkably precise and taut despite its age. The Brut Nature dosage (0 g/l) allows the pure fruit and terroir to shine through unadorned. Stony minerality dominates, framed by ripe apples, citrus peel and a creamy texture. The absence of malolactic fermentation lends the wine a vibrant acidity that harmonises perfectly with its maturity. Medium body with impressive tension.

Finish

Long, dry and flint-driven. The saline minerality lingers for minutes, accompanied by roasted nuts and a subtle bitterness of citrus peel.

Terroir & Origin

From the single vineyard site „L’Enclume“ in Œuilly in the Marne Valley. The flint on limestone subsoil fundamentally shapes the character. East-facing slope with 15% gradient, 135 metres elevation, overlooking the Marne. Vines from massal selection dating from 1977, planted by the 10th and 11th generation of the Tarlant family.

Grape Variety & Vinification

100% Chardonnay. Spontaneous fermentation in Burgundy oak barrels, six months on the lees, no malolactic fermentation. Bottled in May 2012, aged ten years on the lees, disgorged in June 2022. The turbulent 2011 vintage – dry spring, cool summer – brought early harvest at the end of August, yet remarkable concentration.

Food Pairing Suggestions

Oysters, scallops, aged Comté, pan-fried turbot with beurre blanc, sweetbreads or truffle risotto. The minerality calls for seafood or subtly spiced dishes.

Special Features

Only 1900 bottles produced. A single-vineyard Champagne that embodies Tarlant’s philosophy of terroir expression and minimal intervention. Ten years on the lees impart extraordinary complexity whilst maintaining freshness – a masterpiece.