Egly-Ouriet 'Les Prémices' Brut NV

Egly-Ouriet is a prominent Champagne producer (récoltant-manipulant), located at Ambonnay in the Montagne de Reims. It has attained something of a cult status for its richly colored, textured wines, and is a favorite of notable American wine critic Robert Parker.

Pinot Noir plays the starring role in Egly-Ouriet's wines, and the flagship is the Blanc de Noir Vieilles Vignes Brut Grand Cru Ambonnay. The standard Tradition Brut Grand Cru and the Brut Grand Cru Vintage both have 70-percent Pinot Noir and 30-percent Chardonnay, while the Rosé Grand Cru has a dash of Coteaux Champenois rouge added.

Egly-Ouriet's range also includes the Brut Les Vignes de Vrigny Premier Cru cuvee made entirely from Pinot Meunier, and the Ambonnay Rouge, a still red wine which is reasonably unusual in Champagne.

Established in 1930, Egly-Ouriet now has nine hectares (22 ac) of vineyards which are mostly Grand Cru plots in Ambonnay, Bouzy and Verzenay, and mostly planted to Pinot Noir with a small amount of Chardonnay. The exception is a plot of old-vine Pinot Meunier at Vrigny. In the winery, Egly-Ouriet are particularly patient with all cuvées aged on lees in bottle following the second fermentation for a minimum of 36 months before disgorgement.

Base 18, Disgorged July 2022