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 17, Disgorged July 2022
70% pinot noir, 30% chardonnay from the ’12, ’11 and ’10 vintages, disgorged October ’17 after 51 months on lees. Fourth-generation vigneron, Francis Egly, assumed responsibility in ’82, deciding to bottle the production of 8300 dozen from the 12ha estate. His determination to make only the best quality champagne means he now sells on allocation. This wine is supremely concentrated, and equally classy. Dosage 2g/l.