NV Egly-Ouriet 'Les Vignes de Vrigny' 1er Cru

“Egly-Ouriet remains the finest grower in Champagne right now, and my only 10/10 grower.” Tyson Stelzer, The Champagne Guide

“Egly-Ouriet is one of the reference-point growers in Champagne, with a deep selection of wines that offer remarkable transparency to site, vintage and variety ... These are among the most pure, unmanipulated Champagnes readers will come across.” Antonio Galloni, The Wine Advocate

“Few producers can equal Francis Egly in skill and experience, and larger houses cannot hope to emulate the cultivation norms…” Michel Bettane and Thierry Desseauve, The World's Greatest Wines

“Francis Egly has been making wine at this renowned Ambonnay estate since 1982, and among grower producers today, he has a reputation in the region only second to Anselme Selosse.” Peter Liem, Champagne

Vintages: 2017 (50%), 2016 (30%) and 2015 (20%)

Bottling: 2018

Disgorgement: July 2021

Time on lees: 36 months

As always, this is 100% Pinot Meunier from a single 40-year-old, south facing vineyard in Vrigny, a commune located on the Petite Montagne de Reims (very close to Gueux, where Jérôme Prévost is based). Straight Pinot Meunier remains a rarity in Champagne and in Egly’s hands it is something truly unique. Low yields, old vines and ripe fruit make this one of the most intense, layered and opulent Meunier wines kicking around. Bottled without filtration, the dosage for this bottling was a tiny one gram per litre.