Description
Egly Ouriet has been awarded 3 stars, the highest rating, in Le Classement by La Revue du Vin de France. Le Classement is a ranking of the 1300 best domaines in France and only 56 domaines in France have 3 star status. Only 5 champagne houses have 3 star status including Egly Ouriet together with Krug, Salon, Jacquesson and Selosse.
“…the finest grower in Champagne right now” Tyson Stelzer, the Champagne Guide
“These wines confirm Egly’s standing among the elite grower estates in Champagne.” Antonio Galloni, Vinous
Vintages: 2014 (60%) and 2013 (40%); Bottling: 2015; Disgorgement: July 2021; Time on lees: 72 months
This is the emblematic wine from Francis Egly. Michel Bettane, the influential French critic, encouraged Egly to bottle this single vineyard wine separately and the first vintage was in 1989. This latest release was bottled after the 2014 vintage had spent close to one year in cask and blended with 40% reserve wines from the 2013 vintage. All of the vinification and aging for both vintages was in barriques.
The fruit comes from old vines in a single terroir known as Les Crayères. The vines here were planted in 1946, so are now 75 years old. The soil is barely 30cm deep, then it’s chalk, hundreds of metres down—hence the name of the site (craie is French for ‘chalk’). Les Crayères is situated mid-slope with a full south-facing exposure, not far from the Estate’s cellars. The old vines are deeply rooted, giving the wine a classic, mineral energy that weaves its way through the powerful, textured Pinot fruit. The concentration is a product of the ripeness and low yields that both the site and its ancient vines naturally deliver.
The wine is both a tribute to the greatest sites of Ambonnay and to the Egly-Ouriet Domaine. Houses that emphasise blending may consider a 100% old-vine Ambonnay like this to be too intense; Egly gives it to you pure and powerful! And, with minimal dosage of two grams per litre. It’s a unique wine, built for food and for aging. It’s already drinking wonderfully well but will certainly benefit from two to five years in the cellar. A unique expression of a singular terroir, and right up there when talking about candidates for the region’s greatest wine. It’s certainly the greatest Blanc de Noirs.
96+ points, Antonio Galloni, Vinous “The NV Brut Blanc de Noirs Les Crayeres Grand Cru explodes from the glass with a range of Pinot aromas and flavors that is just breathtaking. Bright acids and beams of saline intensity offer striking contrast. Even though it has just been Disgorged:, the Crayeres is just stunning. For readers who want to know what Pinot from Ambonnay tastes like, well, this is it. Hints of Mirabelle plum, red plum and dried flowers linger on the substantial finish.”
Very limited… last bottles $589.99
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