Champagne Egly-Ouriet is renowned for its commitment to traditional, meticulous winemaking practices. Founded in 1930, the estate has evolved into a cult Champagne producer, beloved by connoisseurs around the world, and is now considered one of the finest grower Champagnes. With a focus on single-vineyard, vintage Champagne, Egly-Ouriet emphasizes the expression of terroir, highlighting the unique character of each vineyard parcel. The estate spans 21 hectares, farmed organically or biodynamically, with 10 hectares in the Grand Cru villages of Ambonnay 8 ha, Bouzy 0.3 ha, and Verzenay 1.7 ha. In Premier Cru villages; Vrigny 2 ha, Bisseuil 1.3 ha and recent expansion into Trigny 7.75 ha.
In 1982,
Francis Egly took the helm of the family business, returning it to 100% estate bottling and driving the brand to new heights. In 2008, he further enhanced quality by installing two
Coquard presses, allowing for better control over juice extraction. The juice is then fermented in mostly
older oak barrels, the malolactic fermentation is typically suppressed and the wine spends extended time resting on the lees before blending.
Today, his children, Clémence and Charles, play key roles in the business—
Clémence oversees exports, while Charles manages the vineyards, ensuring the continued legacy of excellence and innovation at Champagne Egly-Ouriet.
Weather: A wet winter and mild spring gave way to an exceptionally dry summer from mid-May onwards. Hot weather prevailed until mid-August, when the skies opened again. Rains gave way to fine, cool, yet sunny weather for the first two weeks of harvest, which commenced on August 29th. The 2015 vintage has a lot of common denominators with the 2003 vintage but the 2015s are showing a better balance of weight and freshness with their average potential alcohol level of 10.5% and total acidity of 6.9 g/l.
Technical Information:
Vineyards: 100% Grand Cru | Ambonnay
Grape Varieties: 70% Pinot Noir & 30% Chardonnay
Lees Ageing: 8 Years
Disgorged: July 2024
Dosage: 1 g/l
Drink: Now to 2032
Tasting Note: Complex aromas of flowers and yellow and white-fleshed fruit like peach and pear combined with vanilla, over hints of honey and green tea. On the palate, it develops immediately, showing a full-bodied structure and great freshness. Great chalky finish with a slight black pepper hint. A harmonious wine with brilliant energy.
The history of Champagne Egly-Ouriet dates back to the late 18th century when the Egly family began cultivating vineyards in the Montagne de Reims region, known for its prime Champagne terroir. However, in the 20th century, the estate gained recognition under the leadership of Francis Egly, who took over the family business in the 1980s.
Champagne Egly-Ouriet is known for its dedication to traditional and meticulous winemaking methods. They focus on producing single-vineyard, vintage Champagnes, emphasising terroir expression and each vineyard parcel’s unique characteristics. The estate owns and manages vineyards in some of the most prestigious areas of Champagne, including Ambonnay, Bouzy, Verzenay, and others. These Grand Cru and Premier Cru vineyards are known for their high-quality Pinot Noir and Chardonnay grapes, the primary varieties used in Champagne production.
Champagne Egly-Ouriet has embraced biodynamic farming practices, prioritising organic and sustainable agriculture. These practices aim to enhance the overall health of the vineyards, improve grape quality, and reflect the unique terroir in the final wines. The winery follows a minimalist approach in the cellar, using natural yeasts for fermentation and avoiding excessive manipulation of the wines. This approach allows the grapes’ natural characteristics to shine through in the final Champagne.
Cellar Master:
Francis Egly
Winery Location: Ambonnay | Champagne, France
Champagne Region:
Montagne de Reims
Annual Production (bottles): 100,000