L’Étincelante Brut Nature 2002

Wine Description for L’Étincelante Brut Nature 2002 by Tarlant

Colour & Appearance

Luminous, sparkling lemon yellow with an exceptionally fine, persistent mousse. The Champagne presents itself creamy and of beguiling elegance – a sight that already promises great things before the first sip.

Nose

Simply monumental. Nearly two decades of yeast ageing have bestowed upon this Champagne a depth that is unparalleled. The nose opens with roasted hazelnuts and almonds, followed by a seductive layer of buttery brioche and shortbread. Beneath this pulses ripe citrus and apple fruit in all its facets – from crisp green to golden yellow. The crowning finale is a cool, relentless chalky minerality that gives everything grip and structure. A wine where one wishes to linger on the nose.

Palate

The attack is captivating: creamy fullness meets brilliant freshness. The yeast autolysis unfolds opulently and nutty, before a precise, taut acidity takes the helm and keeps the wine in motion. Lemon tart with burnt meringue, ripe apple and a subtle buttery quality weave through the palate. No dosage whatsoever – and yet this Brut Nature never feels austere or harsh, but rather of perfect balance. The maturity of the 2002 vintage reveals itself with dignity: complex, rich, yet never heavy.

Finish

Extraordinarily long and lingering. The minerality remains as the final word on the palate – saline, chalky, indelible. An aftertaste that continues to delight minutes after the last sip.

Terroir & Origin

The grapes hail from six carefully selected Lieux-dits in the communes of Œuilly and Celles-lès-Condé in the heart of the Vallée de la Marne. The soils alternate between flint, chalk and limestone – a mosaic that is directly reflected in the wine’s multi-layered minerality. Farmed according to sustainable principles: minimal soil disturbance, natural cover cropping, organic fertilisation.

Grape Variety & Vinification

Blend of 57% Chardonnay, 29% Pinot Noir and 14% Pinot Meunier. Slow gravity pressing, spontaneous fermentation and ten months of ageing on the lees in Burgundian oak barrels, vinified parcel by parcel. No fining, no malolactic fermentation. Bottled in July 2003 – disgorged on 27 June 2022 after nearly 19 years of yeast ageing on the bottle. Dosage: 0 g/l – Brut Nature. Release: 5,000 bottles.

Food Pairing Suggestions

A wine of this calibre demands partners of equal standing: turbot with beurre blanc, almonds and roasted cauliflower mirrors the nutty creaminess perfectly. Equally convincing: roasted veal fillet with herb jus, caramelised carrots and pommes dauphine. For those preferring vegetarian fare, choose roasted white cabbage with Parmesan, hollandaise sauce and buttered breadcrumbs.

Special Characteristics

The 2002 vintage is regarded as one of the great Champagne vintages of its generation – a mild spring, a perfect, warm summer and brilliant sunshine at harvest ensured exceptional concentration. Nearly 19 years of yeast ageing make L’Étincelante a rare historical document of the House Tarlant – a Champagne that breathes history.

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