Argilité, Brut Nature 2015

Wine Description for Argilité Brut Nature 2015 by Tarlant

Colour & Appearance

Pale golden yellow with a fine, crystal-clear mousse, bearing witness to five years of yeast ageing in bottle. The perlage is precise and persistent.

Nose

A fascinating aromatic interplay that begins with petrichor – that characteristic scent of damp stones after rain. Green and yellow citrus fruits meet crushed stone, complemented by herbal notes and a hint of smoke. With air contact, hemp, chamomile and apple and orange peel unfold – a complex, earthy aromatics that clearly reflects the amphora ageing.

Palate

Here the charming maturity of Meunier reveals itself in perfect symbiosis with the citric freshness of Chardonnay. The texture is the outstanding feature: the amphora ageing imparts a remarkable grip and an almost tactile presence to the Champagne. Good depth, creamy-citric notes and a mineral tension that carries through to the finish.

Finish

Long and precise with persistent citrus freshness and stony minerality. The Brut Nature dosage (0 g/l) gives pride of place to the terroir and underscores the saline, chalky structure.

Terroir & Origin

Single vineyard site Notre Dame in Celles-lès-Condé in the Marne Valley. The 20% steep, south-facing vineyard sits on hard Lutetian limestone (Paris Basin) with clay at 120 metres elevation. The vines were planted in 1987 as a Sélection Massale and are managed according to biodynamic principles.

Grape Variety & Vinification

50% Chardonnay, 50% Pinot Meunier. Hand-harvested on 16 September 2015, gentle gravity pressing. Spontaneous fermentation in Georgian terracotta amphorae, ten months ageing on fine lees without malolactic fermentation. Bottled July 2016, disgorged July 2021 after five years of yeast ageing. No filtration, no fining. Only 900 bottles.

Food Pairing Suggestions

Sea bass fillet in herb crust with venus clams and citrus fruits, sole in fig leaves with fresh figs or pheasant with chard confit and toasted bread. The mineral structure harmonises perfectly with seafood and fine game birds.

Special Features

A radically purist Champagne that impressively demonstrates the possibilities of amphora ageing in Champagne. The texture and minerality make this wine a statement for terroir expression beyond conventional Champagne styling.