The Ambonnay based Egly-Ouriet are a reference point for grower producers in Champagne, known for their impeccable vineyard management and fastidious winemaking skills. Much of their production is raised in oak barrels, with extended aging on lees a feature, and there's no better example of this than their V.P. bottling. The V.P. stands for ‘Vieillissement Prolongé’ (prolonged ageing), with the wine spending an average of seven years on lees before being disgorged with an extra brut low of 2g/l dosage. A blend of 70% Pinot Noir and 30% Chardonnay, the fruit comes from Ambonnay, Bouzy and Verzenay. Vineyard notes: "From 90% Ambonnay Grand Cru, 10% Bouzy Grand Cru and Verzenay Grand Cru."
Base 14, Disgorged July 2022.
The NV Extra Brut V.P. Grand Cru (Vieillissement Prolongé) is a rich, textured Champagne that expresses all of the natural intensity gained after having spent eight years on its lees. Baked apple tart, pastry, spice, chamomile and lightly honeyed notes infuse the V.P. with tremendous flavor complexity to fill out its broad, expansive frame. It is a wine of remarkable depth and vinous intensity. In a word: superb.