Egly Ouriet Grand Cru Champagne NV

(Base 17. Disg July 2022)

Yet another striking release of this wine, this is, as always, made exclusively from Grand Cru vines predominantly in Ambonnay, but also Bouzy and Verzenay. Again, as always, itÕs 70% Pinot Noir and 30% Chardonnay from low-yielding, perfectly tended vines and from grapes that have been harvested fully ripe. The old cliche Egly starts harvesting when everyone else has finished still holds true. Natural fermentation was with wild yeasts only and the first period of maturation (before going to bottle) lasted almost one year, with the wine remaining on its fine lees for the whole time. Over 50% of the wine was fermented and aged in oak casks. The wine clarifies slowly and naturally as was once typical across the region and as such there was no fining nor filtration. The dosage was at two grams per litre, so extra-brut territory. Based on the 2017 vintage, Egly's NV Brut Grand Cru unwinds in the glass with aromas of pear, freshly baked bread, lemon zest, tangerine and praline. Full-bodied, layered and elegantly muscular, with terrific concentration, racy acids and chalky structure, it concludes with a long, gently honeyed finish. Egly has always been enthusiastic about the quality of his Ambonnay fruit in 2017, and this bottling certainly validates his early confidence. William Kelley - Wine Advocate