Egly-Ouriet is one of the original names who started the grower Champagne movement and today together with Selosse among the most sought after cult producers, especially after receiving 100 Pts recently for their 2008. To me it is simple the best Pinot Noir led Champagne. It is a family-run property with 9 ha of Grand Cru Pinot Noir & Chardonnay at Ambonnay, Bouzy and Verzenay plus a tiny holding of Meunier in Vrigny on the western Montagne. Quality is high, with well-aged vineyards that are well over 30 years old.
Owner Francis Egly is an original, his aversion to journalists and visits is well known, so the luckier we were when we were able to visit his winery. The high natural ripeness of his wines is amplified by green harvesting in July and shaped in a stunning mineral frame. Egly’s work in the vines is rigorously sustainable, no chemical insecticides, only organic fertilizers and ploughing of vineyards as his grandfather had done. Francis’ most admired Champagne is his Blanc de Noirs Vieilles Vignes which are up to 100 years old. Though labelled NV, it’s often from a single year. If there is one Blanc de Noir that you have to taste, then it is this one, but his Champanges are impressive across the whole range, the results are wonderfully pure, full-bodied wines of great character. Definitely with food, not just aperitif. Also worth mentioning, there is a Côteaux Champenois rouge produced (a Burgundian styled Pinot Noir still win) but available only in very limited quantities, sought after and expensive as well.
I remember serving the Egly-Ouriet’s Blanc de Noir VV at a celebratory dinner for our WSET III dimploma and it shut down the table. Most participants had never had such a rich, deep Champagne
Tasting Notes of recently tasted Egly-Ouriet Champagne
NV (2004) Egly-Ouriet Champagne Grand Cru Blanc de Noirs Les Crayères Pinot Noir, 100 Points
During a Champagne birthday dinner of a good friend. Another great showing of this, one of my favorite Champagne. This bottle was disgorged in 2010 so had significant age to it, likely base 2004 given the lees aging. Yellow, almost orange in color. Complex aged, but not oxidative nose of brioche, lots of red berry fruit, sweet spices, oak. Fine perlage and very good length. At this with a creamy cod dish, a wonderful match. A Champage to die for, definitely for the dinner table not the cocktail.
2012 Egly-Ouriet Champagne Grand Cru Brut Millésimé, 99 Points
Salon Focofi Paris walkabout and dinner. The 2012 is stellar, very aromatic, rich, yet composed, stunning depth. 2030. 98-100
NV (2009) Egly-Ouriet Champagne Grand Cru Blanc de Noirs Les Crayères
DG2016, 75 mois on yeast, this makes 2009 the base year if my math is right. A dream Champagne in every aspect. Super complex nose of white flowers, lemon curd, quince, cinnamon, baking spices. The palate is fresh with delicate bruised apple notes. A stunner.
NV (2005) Egly-Ouriet Champagne Grand Cru Blanc de Noirs Les Crayères, 98 Points
DG April/2011, 57 mois en lees, so it has to be 2005. Excellent showing of this Champagne again with complex Pinot aromas, bruised apples. Shows patina without oxidation. Grand
2008 Egly-Ouriet Champagne Grand Cru Brut Millésimé, 98 Points
Year-end Champagne lunch, Christmas dinner. Voilà a Champagne for the table – not the night club. Very vinous, Pinot hand writing visible, complex nose of sour dough, raspberries, almonds, flowers, subtle oak, with air also red apples and autolysis. Fine perlage, long sappy finish. Alas, prices sky rocked of my favorite producer after William Kelly gave this 100pts. PS: Make sure to give this plenty of air and don’t drink it too cold. 97+
2013 Egly-Ouriet Champagne Grand Cru Brut Millésimé, 98 Points
2g dosage.Medium yellow., Rich spices, aromatically similar to the Cran but with a little more finesse. Top notch, more racy than the 2012.
2009 Egly-Ouriet Champagne Grand Cru Brut Millésimé, 96 Points
Intense nose with yellow stone fruit, spices. Unbelievable palate, rich, yet fresh and defined. Very generous. Long finish. A full throttle Champagne. 96+
NV Egly-Ouriet Champagne Grand Cru VP, 95 Points
Expressive and complex nose of brioche, flowers, seaweed, very fragrant. This is really deep and complex. On the palate fresh and clean with a fruity touch to it. Good perlage and long finish. I really feel that this is Champage made from high quality white wine and not just (typical for the basic offerings of the big houses) yeast, bubbles and sugar added to semi-ripe crops. This is the Egly with the best QPR in my view.
NV Egly-Ouriet Champagne Grand Cru Brut Rosé, 95 Points
DG15, Millesime 2011 probably. Expressive nose of raspberry, yeasty elements, earl gray tea, some patina without oxidation. Opened up more and more and added complex bergamot notes. Long finish.
Francis Egly discussing with my collector friend Pierre-Alexandre
Author: Christian Raubach, WSET III, FWS, WSG Champagne Master
December 2022