CHAMPAGNE EGLY-OURIET
Ambonnay
Egly-Ouriet is one of the reference-point growers in Champagne, with a stunning selection of wines that offer remarkable transparency of site, vintage and variety. Owner and winemaker Francis Egly took over from his father in 1982, after which he immediately converted the domaine to 100% estate bottling, and in the process became one the original pioneers in the grower Champagne movement.
The family grand cru vineyards are mainly located in the villages of Ambonnay, Verzenay and Bouzy and are planted to 70 percent Pinot Noir and 30 percent Chardonnay with vines that are on average 50 years old. Ambonnay, where the winery is based, is also home of the legendary grand cru vineyard of Les Crayères planted with 70-year-old Pinot Noir vines that Francis Egly has vinified separately since 1990. The grower also own premier cru vineyards in the village of Vrigny planted with Pinot Meunier. More recently, he has been working with grapes from old Chardonnay vines (planted in 1902) in Verzy and a small sandy vineyard in Trigny (near Merfy) planted with 40-year-old Pinot Noir, Pinot Meunier and Chardonnay vines.
Egly-Ouriet wines stand at the summit of intense, complex, and texturally precise Champagnes. When talking about their wines it’s hard not to mention their Coteaux Champenois Ambonnay Rouge. Made with grapes from a single vineyard directly below Les Crayères in Ambonnay this cuvée has become one of the must-find rare Pinot Noirs from France!
Francis Egly works meticulously; In the vineyards he uses organic and biodynamic practices. Yields are dramatically controlled, and regular ploughing is employed. Grapes are harvested by hand when perfectly ripe.
When arriving in the cellar the grapes are pressed full cluster in the newest released Coquard press. Refrigerated press pans are used to immediately cool the must.
The juice is fermented with indigenous yeasts, in French oak barrels, purchased from Burgundian Dominique Laurent. Every year between 10 and 15% of the barrels are renewed. Malolactic fermentation is allowed or blocked depending on the needs of the vintage and all wines are aged extensively on lees. Dosage is very low with seldom more than 3 grams per liter. All wines are bottled unfined and unfiltered.
Brut Grand Cru Millésimé
Made from 70% of Pinot Noir and 30% of Chardonnay, this cuvee is exclusively sourced from Grand Cru vineyards in Ambonnay. Depending on the vintage the wine is aged from 6 to 8 years in bottle.
Brut Blanc de Noir Grand Cru
Les Crayères Vieilles Vignes NV
Made entirely from Pinot Noir this cuvee is sourced from the south-facing vineyard of Les Crayères that was planted in 1946. It was Michel Bettane, who encouraged Francis Egly to bottle this single vineyard wine separately. The Blanc de Noirs cuvée started with the 1989 vintage. This wine was once the product of a single vintage, but this is no longer the case.
Extra Brut Grand Cru
V.P. NV
V.P. is a blend of 70% Pinot Noir and 30% Chardonnay. 90% of the fruits come from Grand Cru Ambonnay and the rest comes from Grand Crus Verzenay and Bouzy. V.P. stands for Vieillissement Prolongé, or extended ageing. This cuvee is aged 84 months on the lees.
Brut Grand Cru
Tradition NV
The Brut Tradition Grand Cru is made from 70% Pinot Noir and 30% Chardonnay. 90% of the fruit is sourced from Ambonnay with the rest coming from Verzenay and Bouzy.
Brut Rosé Grand Cru NV
Made from 70% Pinot Noir and 30% Chardonnay this rosé is aged for more than three years in bottle.
Brut 1er Cru
Les Vignes de Vrigny NV
Les Vignes de Vrigny is made of 100% Pinot Meunier from 40 year-old vines in the Premier Cru village of Vrigny, a commune sitting very close to Gueux in the Petite Montagne de Reims.
Brut
Les Prémices NV
Les Prémices is a blend of Pinot Noir (1/3), Chardonnay (1/3) and Pinot Meunier (1/3). The grapes are sourced from vineyards on the Massif de Saint-Thierry northwest of Reims.
Côteaux Champenois
Ambonnay Rouge
Cuvée des Grands Côtés Vieilles Vignes
The cuvee of Côteaux Champenois is made from a single parcel of Pinot Noir planted mid-slope in Ambonnay. The south-facing vineyard, shaped naturally like an amphitheater, is planted with 70 year-old vines planted on a combination of chalk and limestone soils that produce low yields. The wine is fermented and aged for 22 months in barrels.
Ratafia de Champagne
Franis Egly uses 100% Grand Cru fruit from Ambonnay to create this ratafia. The fortified wine is aged in barrel for 4 years.
