Champagne "L`Enclume" Brut Nature

France
Champagne
2011

100% Chardonnay. From a 0.4-hectare parcel of vines planted in the 1960s in the Tarlants' home village of Oeuilly. This northeast-facing slope features eolian soils with stones of silex, flint being quite rare here. 2011 is the first bottling of this single parcel, brought about by the demise of black grapes in 2011 (normally this Chard would have been incorporated with the two Pinots in another wine). These certified-organic bunches were hand-harvested and gently pressed; the juice was fermented with natural yeasts in stainless steel vats. The wine was aged in barrel with no malolactic fermentation before bottling in May 2012. The bottles were aged sur lattes, disgorged in 2022 and finished with zero dosage. "L'Enclume" means "anvil", in reference to the shape of the vineyard parcel. 

 

93 points
"The 2011 Champagne L'Enclume Brut Nature is the current release and saw ten years aging on the lees. Entirely made from Chardonnay, it pours a bright yellow/golden color and reveals a bold personality in its aromas of honey, preserved lemon, flinty wet stones, toasted bread, and golden apples. The palate is full-bodied but concentrated and compact, with driving and intense acidity, a pillowing mousse, and a strong persistence through the finish. It is not for the faint of heart, as its potent and compact acidity dominate on the palate. I love the nose, which is complex and pure, although the palate is a bit overpowering and austere for my taste. It certainly has the structure to age slowly over the next 10 or more years. Drink 2025-2040."
Audrey Frick,
Jeb Dunnuck
November 2024

SKU/Code: 
DB4782-11
Product Line: 
Wine
Sparkling
Varietal: 
Chardonnay
Farming Type: 
Organic