Egly-Ouriet Champagne

No matter how much Egly-Ouriet Grand Cru I manage to secure, it never seems to last very long. The wine arrives to almost cult-like anticipation, then disappears just as quickly into the hands of collectors and longtime devotees. I feel fortunate sometimes just to taste a bottle myself.

Over the past three decades, François Egly has transformed this once under-the-radar domaine into one of Champagne's benchmark estates. His philosophy is uncompromising: obsessive work in the vineyard, painfully low yields, extended lees aging, and a refusal to release wines before they are truly ready. The result is a lineup of Champagnes that combine extraordinary power with remarkable precision and finesse. The domaine's ten hectares lie in the heart of Champagne's most revered Grand Cru villages — Ambonnay, Bouzy, and Verzenay, where Pinot Noir reigns supreme. From these exceptional vineyards, Egly crafts wines of depth, structure, and unmistakable character that have come to define the house style and captivate Champagne lovers around the world.

The 2025 disgorgement is based on the 2020 harvest and includes 50% reserve wine from the two previous vintages (2019 & 2018). The blend is 70% Pinot Noir and 30% Chardonnay, sourced from the domaine's Grand Cru vineyards. What sets this bottling apart from many other producers is that it sees 48 months of lees aging — one if not two years longer than most. Couple that with a generous proportion of reserve wine, and on release this wine is already showing the bottle complexity and depth that would rival most producers' Grand Marque cuvées. I also love the fact that he blocks malolactic fermentation, giving his wines added lift and freshness, especially important now that we are dealing with these riper vintages. This bottling is finished as an extra brut at 1 g/L.

I poured myself a glass as I sat down to write this email — I've finished more than half the bottle and can't seem to put it down. The nose shows a distinctive red fruit character that leaves little doubt this is Pinot Noir. It has a sunny disposition while maintaining great energy and freshness on a penetrating, lingering finish. Super impressive! This easily has the stuffing to age in the cellar for a number of years, but you'll be hard pressed not to reach for it now. 

In stock while it lasts!