"La Vigne d'Or" Brut Nature

France
Champagne
2006

100% Pinot Meunier. From a parcel in Oeuilly called "Pierre de Bellevue", planted in 1947 by the Tarlants' paternal grandfather Georges on Sparnacian clay-limestone soils. The vines are organically farmed and harvested by hand and the clusters very slowly and gently pressed. The juice ferments spontaneously with native yeasts in Burgundy barrels; the wine does not go through malolactic fermentation. The 2006 was bottled in 2007, disgorged in 2022 and received zero dosage.

(*Note that the Tarlants make a subtle distinction between their terroir wines and vintage wines. The terroir wines--Vigne d'Antan, Vigne d'Or, and Vigne Royale--feature those names on the front label, while the vintage is tucked on the back in tiny type. The unique vintage-forward bottlings (current example: L'Etincelante 2002)feature the vintage in large type on the front with the whimsical name in much smaller type below it.)

 

95 points
"A golden yellow hue, the 2006 Champagne Blanc De Meuniers La Vigne D’Or is ample and lush with aromas of toasted almond croissant, fresh nectarine, and white strawberry. Full-bodied, with a rounded mousse, it is fleshy and ripe through the palate and doesn’t feel as if it’s lacking for dosage. It has a pillowy mousse and a bit of pithy bitter orange citrus on the long finish. Juicy and ample, it’s very attractive now and will drink well over the coming ten or more years. Disgorged June 2022."
Audrey Frick,
Jeb Dunnuck
November 2023

SKU/Code: 
DB6171-06
Product Line: 
Wine
Sparkling
Varietal: 
Pinot Meunier
Farming Type: 
Organic