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.
The Egly Bisseuil vines cover 1.5 hectares and span two lieux-dits. They have now been farmed by the Egly family for more than seven years—Francis and Annick Egly purchased these vines in anticipation of their children Clémence and Charles joining the domaine.
This is the fourth release of Egly’s sole Chardonnay dominant cuvée and it’s the second release to include three vintages in the blend. The wine is drawn from a plot of vines on the south-facing slopes of Bisseuil, a village just to the east of the famous Grand Cru communes of Aÿ and Mareuil-sur-Aÿ. This is a blend mainly based on Chardonnay, contrary to what Egly are used to doing. This vintage has benefited from vinification in barrels and aging in cellars for 4 years before disgorging. Based around the 2019 vintage (50%), with 2018 (30%) and 2017 (20%) making up the blend.
Weather: The 2019 growing period posed many challenges following budbreak in early April, which brought severe spring frosts that took their toll on the vineyards. Early summer was variable, with powdery mildew becoming a serious threat. The summer season saw two heatwaves in June and July, with a record-breaking temperature. As a consequence, scalding destroyed some 10% of the expected harvest. The warm and sunny weather continued throughout August and September, bringing concentration and richness. Cool nights were crucial in helping the grapes retain their fresh acidity. Chardonnay was more problematic in 2019, due to its susceptibility to powdery mildew. A slightly smaller crop was picked, commencing September 2nd. On paper, the potential alcohol level was slightly up from 2019 and the acidity a little higher, thus the balance looks excellent. Initial tasting confirms good tension and fine purity in the wines.
Technical Information:
Vineyards: 100% Premier Cru: Bisseuil
Grape Varieties: 70% Chardonnay, 15% Pinot Noir & 15% Meunier
Base vintage: 2019
Reserve wines: 30% 2018 & 20% 2017
Disgorged: July 2024
Lees Ageing: 4 Years
Dosage: 1 g/l
Drink: Now to 2030+
Tasting Note: Les Vignes de Bisseuil is superb. Baked apple tart, white flower, tangerine oil, slate and sage all race across the palate. Deceptive at first in its light-bodied, airy feel, the 2019 opens beautifully in the glass, revealing myriad shades of nuance and tons of finesse to match. I love this for its dimension, breadth and complexity. - Tasted by Antonio Galloni
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