The Essence of Grower Champagne
Grower Champagne has been the hottest thing in Champagne for the last few years. It feels like something fresh and new -- because it mostly is! The number of Grower Champagnes has exploded in recent years as more and more small farmers begin to bottle and sell their own Champagnes. But unbeknownst to even many Champagne Geeks, there is one family that has been making Grower Champagnes for decades and continues to embody everything that we all love about the wines: Champagne Tarlant.
Tarlant has been making Grower Champagne since all the way back in the 1920s, when Louis Tarlant helped the Champagne AOC to gain international fame. Ever since then, the family has produced beautiful bubblies entirely from fruit they've harvested themselves. And to this day they exemplify everything we love about "farmer's fizz" (as some folks like to call Grower Champers). The family takes impeccable care of their vines, farming organically and harvesting incredible fruit that is full of all the flavors of their Marnes terroir. That fruit is so expressive that their calling card wine, the "Zero," is made without any dosage at all -- no sugar to round out the fruit or hide any flaws. Just pure Champagne goodness.
Tarlant's wines are the sort of staff favorites that many of us love to have in the cellar (or in the fridge -- if you have a good champagne stopper it will keep for days and days) or to bring to share with friends. It has all the elegance and straight-up deliciousness even the most casual Champagne drinker will expect. But it's also complex and long, vibrant and full of life. It's very, very dry and has the substance to pair with almost any food -- we've even been known to drink a glass with steak. And it's way more than just a celebratory treat (though it's great for that); it's a real wine with a real voice. Like the best of the famous Tetes de Cuvees it's also got a long life ahead of it -- if you can keep your hands off it!
We're thrilled to be able to share the most recent release with you today at special pricing.
Tarlant Champagne Brut Nature Zero [2015 Base] NV $71.99
"A pale yellow hue, the NV Champagne Zero Brut Nature is fresh and lifted with citrus blossom, lemon grass, fresh pear, and saline. Medium-bodied with a fluffy mousse, it’s bright on the palate, with citrus drive and a savory, pithy flourish on the back and bright acidity throughout. It is lively and zesty now and will continue to have a solid drinking window over the coming 8-10 years." (Audrey Frick, Jeb Dunnuck)
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