Egly Ouriet

One of the more impressive family-run properties, the House of Egly Ouriet is a very experienced small grower-producer in Champagne, with about ten hectares under vines. Founded in 1930, the estate lies close to the village of Ambonnay, in the Montagne de Reims area, famed for the most Pinot Noir plantings in the region. Quality is of the upmost importance, their well-aged vineyards, some over 30-years-old are planted to Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, as well as a smaller percentage of Pinot Meunier. Adopting extreme viticulture methods, Francis Egly biodynamically grows his grapes and keeps their yields incredibly low, averaging around half of the regional sum – but the results are compelling, expressive and high-quality fruit. The vinification techniques are also very natural, extended on the lees aging is matched with the absence of both fining and filtration. This reference-point grower offers an array of remarkable wines, with notable transparency between sites, vintages and grape varietals. The vintage Grand Cru Millesime, along with the non-vintage Grand Crus, Brut Tradition, Brut Rosé, and Blanc de Noirs Vieilles Vignes, are excellent examples of the region’s most unmanipulated Champagnes.