NV Tarlant Brut Tradition

Very tight bead. Lots of age and perhaps a bit of oak on the nose. Good undertow of ripe fruit but very lacy and refreshing up top. Very satisfying, and ready. But of course I don't know whether this is the cuvée everywhere else at the moment. (JR)

The pale golden NV Champagne Brut Tradition is a lovely, pure, dry, delicate and straightforward, serious champagne with a persistent natural taste and a highly elegant and finesse-full performance on the palate. Made from 56% Pinot Noir, 39% Pinot Meunier and 5% Chardonnay grown on different soil types of the Vallée de la Marne, this medium-bodied, full-flavored and very well-structured champagne has lovely clear apple, lemon, brioche and toffee aromas with a delicate mousseux; it has a slightly herbal and grippy taste with toffee flavors in the aftertaste, and should be served in between 4-5 years. The wine I tasted was disgorged in November 2013 with six grams per liter of sugar and was even more delicious the second day. Compared to the Réserve, the Tradition is less puristic but more rich and flavored (not only but mostly with toffee). It's not a question of quality but of style. It's up to you to decide which of the fraternal twins you like more.

The NV Brut Tradition is a beautiful entry-level wine graced with an open, exquisite bouquet and layers of warm, radiant fruit. Peaches, pears and hazelnuts linger on the pretty finish. The Brut Tradition is 55% Pinot Noir, 37% Pinot Meunier and 8% Chardonnay, but it is the base vintage - in this case the hot 2003 - that marks the wine quite noticeably. This bottle was disgorged in July 2009. Dosage is 6 grams per liter. Anticipated maturity: 2011-2015. Importer: Boutique Wine Collection, Philadelphia, PA; (914) 954-6583