There are few growers in champagne with the attention to detail and unashamed passion for producing wines of distinction.
Egly-Ouriet is based in the grand cru village of Ambonnay, famed for its pinot noir fruit. It is run by the skillful, Francis Egly who practices biodynamic and organic principals in his vineyards which span, Bouzy and Verzenay. Francis makes up a handful of highly talented and terroir-driven producers along with the likes of Anselme Selosse, Larmandier-Bernier and Vouette et Sorbée.
These are wines first and he produces deep, powerful and intense styles of champagne. His minimum ageing is around 48-60 months (as declared on his informative back label) for his non-vintage wines, allowing time to express the inner strength and purity. If you’ve never heard of Egly-Ouriet before, you are in for a treat.
93+ Points Wine Advocate
Golden in color, the 2004 Brut Millésime Grand Cru offers an intense and precise aroma of slightly toasted whole-grain bread, brownish apples, apple strudel, oranges, dried fruits, raisins, brioche, and hints of mocha and nougat. This full-bodied yet lovely, really pure and dry wine is very elegant, quite expressive on the palate, and finishes with a refreshing lime aroma and citric acidity. This is a classic for fans of complex Champagnes of great purity and finesse. The wine is very well structured and quite firm in the finish and aftertaste, and can be stored for 4-5 years. The wine was sourced from old vines in grands cru vineyards of Ambonnay and bottled for the second fermentation without filtration. It was then kept on the lees for 100 months and disgorged in November 2013.