Pre Arrival Egly-Ouriet Champagne 1er Cru "Les Vignes de Bisseuil" Brut (R21)

Notes:

Producer: Egly-Ouriet is based in Ambonnay and is best known for powerful, vinous Champagnes built around Pinot Noir from the Montagne de Reims. Les Vignes de Bisseuil is an important counterpoint within the range. Here, Chardonnay takes the lead, giving Francis Egly a distinctly different expression from the Pinot Noir-driven Grand Cru bottlings for which the domaine is most famous. The cuvée is a relatively recent addition to the portfolio, with its first commercial release appearing in 2021. Despite the change in grape emphasis, the winemaking remains recognizably Egly-Ouriet: ripe fruit, careful élevage in wood, long maturation on the lees and very low dosage.
Vineyard: The wine comes from Bisseuil, a Premier Cru village situated near Aÿ and Bouzy. Egly-Ouriet works a roughly 1.5-hectare parcel here, planted on chalky soils with a predominantly south-facing exposure. The blend is 70% Chardonnay, 15% Pinot Noir and 15% Meunier, making it one of the most Chardonnay-focused wines in the Egly-Ouriet range. That composition is particularly notable for an estate whose identity is so closely tied to Pinot Noir. The chalk-rich terroir and Chardonnay emphasis give Les Vignes de Bisseuil its own clear identity within the portfolio, with freshness and tension complementing the concentration associated with the house style.
Winemaking: All three varieties are vinified in oak, and spontaneous fermentation is used. Extended lees aging is a major component of the cuvée, with releases spending roughly four years or more on the lees before disgorgement. The combination of barrel vinification and extended lees maturation builds texture and complexity while the high proportion of Chardonnay maintains freshness and definition. Dosage is kept extremely low, generally around the Extra Brut level, despite some markets and labels referring to the cuvée simply as Brut.
Technical Details: Champagne AOC; Premier Cru; Base 2021; 70% Chardonnay, 15% Pinot Noir and 15% Meunier; Bisseuil; approximately 1.5-hectare vineyard; oak vinification; extended lees aging. I would keep the exact disgorgement date and dosage off the product description until confirmed from this particular Base 2021 bottle, since available references document several different releases and disgorgements. The core technical identity, however, is consistent: Chardonnay-dominant fruit from Bisseuil, complemented equally by Pinot Noir and Meunier and vinified in wood.
Food Pairing: Les Vignes de Bisseuil has enough body and texture to move well beyond an aperitif. Its Chardonnay-driven freshness makes it a natural match for oysters, crab, scallops and grilled or roasted fish, while the barrel élevage and Pinot components give it enough breadth for lobster, roast chicken and richer preparations of white fish. Aged Comté would also work particularly well. This is a Champagne worth serving in a white-wine glass, where its combination of chalky freshness, texture and vinous character has room to develop.

Vins Rare

Egly-Ouriet Champagne 1er Cru "Les Vignes de Bisseuil" Brut (R21)

Name: Egly-Ouriet Champagne 1er Cru "Les Vignes de Bisseuil" Brut (R21)
Brand: Vins Rare
SKU: 102631
Price: 85.00 USD
Availability: OutOfStock