Tarlant

History of Champagne Tarlant

The history of Champagne Tarlant begins in 1687, when Pierre Tarlant started cultivating his first vines in the Aisne region. In 1780, the family settled in Oeuilly, in the heart of the Marne valley, and laid the foundations of what would become one of the most respected estates in Champagne.

Louis Tarlant, mayor of Oeuilly and visionary winegrower, played a key role in the recognition of the Champagne AOC in 1927. Refusing to sell his grapes to the large négociant houses, he made Champagne Tarlant one of the first independent producers in Champagne. Today, Benoît and Mélanie Tarlant, the 12th generation of winegrowers, carry on this family tradition by combining respect for heritage with innovative practices.

Terroirs and Vineyards of Champagne Tarlant

Champagne Tarlant spans 14 hectares, divided into 55 plots in the villages of Oeuilly, Boursault, St-Agnan and Celles-les-Condés. This mosaic of terroirs reflects an exceptional diversity of soils, ranging from pure chalk to calcareous clays, as well as flint and sands.

The traditional grape varieties of Champagne — Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Meunier — dominate, complemented by rare varieties such as Pinot Blanc, Arbane and Petit Meslier. Each plot is tended with meticulous care to preserve biodiversity and highlight the unique characteristics of each soil and microclimate.

For two generations, the estate has used only contact treatments and is committed to a progressive transition towards organic farming. This approach guarantees grapes of exceptional quality, essential for producing Champagnes of great purity.

Winemaking at Champagne Tarlant

At Champagne Tarlant, every step of the winemaking process is designed to bring out the full expression of the terroir. The grapes, harvested by hand, are gently pressed in traditional basket presses or state-of-the-art presses.

Each plot is vinified separately, often in Burgundian barrels, to preserve the identity of each lieu-dit. Malolactic fermentation is rarely practised, allowing the wines to retain their natural acidity and great freshness. Sulphites are used sparingly, and the wines are never filtered.

True to the family heritage, 90% of Tarlant champagnes are undosed, a pioneering practice initiated in the 1970s. This bold choice allows the full aromatic richness and structure of the wines to be revealed, without masking the natural characteristics of the grape.

The Cuvées of Champagne Tarlant

These terroir Champagnes follow a single-plot approach, authentic and expressive, conveying the singular character of each site, with very lightly dosed Champagne cuvées such as the Cuvée Zero, full of freshness and vivacity. Champagne Tarlant was indeed one of the pioneers in the 1970s to produce undosed champagnes. The Cuvée Louis from Champagne Tarlant, a blend of Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, is undeniably a Vins & Millésimes favourite (tasted and approved!). This cuvée is found in blends across years such as 1996/1997/1998/1999 and more recently 2002/2003. A Champagne cuvée worthy of the finest tables, it offers intensity, vigour and excellence, on an elegant and creamy texture. Mélanie Tarlant, responsible for sales and marketing at Domaine Tarlant, has successfully brought the champagnes of Maison Tarlant to prominence worldwide. The international guides: the Parker Guide, the Revue des Vins de France, Bettane & Desseauve… are unanimous in their praise.

You will delight in the cuvées of Blanc de Champagne Zéro Brut Nature, Brut Réserve, Prestige Millésimé, Blanc de Meuniers — ungrafted, Chardonnay and of course Champagne Tarlant Cuvée Louis, as well as a Rosé Champagne Zéro Brut Nature. Discover also extraordinary cuvées such as Champagne Tarlant L'Aérienne 2004 and Champagne Tarlant Matinale 2003, two vintage Champagnes that enthusiasts will adore — power, energy, terroir expression…
For Mélanie and Benoit Tarlant, the attention paid to the vineyard and the duty of memory are equally important. This is why their vines feature an ultra-clean viticulture as well as forgotten grape varieties such as Arbane, Petit Meslier and Pinot Blanc — which will give rise to the Champagne Tarlant B.A.M cuvée — in addition to Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Meunier. Benoit Tarlant has also been experimenting for several years with amphora winemaking, having fallen under the spell of the white wines from the Foradori estate in Italy.

Discover other grower Champagnes such as those from Egly Ouriet, Larmandier Bernier, Agrapart, Laherte, Dehours, Ruppert Leroy, Françoise Bedel, R. Pouillon, Eric Rodez, Chartogne Taillet, Selosse, Jacques Lassaigne, Benoit Marguet, Aurélien Suenen, Leclerc Briant... Vins & Millésimes offers you the opportunity to buy online the finest bottles and magnums of wines, grand crus and old vintages. All our wines are in stock and available for fast delivery! Discover the cuvées of Champagne Tarlant available for purchase!

Champagne Tarlant embodies the authenticity, innovation and excellence of Champagne. Drawing on expertise passed down since 1687 and a terroir-focused approach, Benoît and Mélanie Tarlant offer unique champagnes that are both respectful of tradition and resolutely modern. Explore the richness of their cuvées now and let yourself be seduced by the timeless elegance of Champagne Tarlant.