Champagne Egly-Ouriet

Champagne Egly-Ouriet

Egly-Ouriet

Champagne Egly-Ouriet is located in Ambonnay, a Grand Cru village in the Montagne de Reims. The maison is run by Francis Egly and is considered one of the most respected growers in Champagne. They are known for very old vines, long lees aging, extremely low Dosage, and a style that demands patience in the glass.

Vignoble & Terroir

Egly-Ouriet farms around twelve hectares total, with about eight in the Grand-Cru village of Ambonnay on chalky slopes facing south to southeast. They also have parcels in the Grand-Cru villages of Bouzy and Verzenay, plus, further west in the Petite Montagne, around two hectares of Pinot Meunier in the Premier-Cru village of Vrigny, where the soil is more sandy than chalky. A trademark is their very old vines, some parcels were planted as early as 1946.

Viticulture & Sustainability

Egly-Ouriet works meticulously and with a quality obsession, using low yields, late harvesting, and very old vines. There is no biodynamic or organic certification on file, but their vineyard philosophy is clear: as natural as possible, as precise as necessary. Also characteristic are the long lees aging and extremely low Dosage, usually between one and three grams per liter across their entire range.

Vinification

The philosophy of the maison revolves around champagnes that need time to open up. Vinous, complex, never loud. For Les Prémices, 50% is aged in oak barrels, a building block of the texture and depth that distinguishes Egly-Ouriet.

Beyond what I've tasted here, the house's iconic Cuvées include Les Vignes de Vrigny, a Blanc de Noirs from 100% old Pinot Meunier from Vrigny with only about 2 g/l Dosage, as well as Les Crayères, a concentrated Blanc de Noirs from Pinot Noir vines planted in 1946 in Ambonnay, also with around 2 g/l. Both exemplify the Egly style: old vines, depth, minerality, and a Dosage that almost disappears.

The Cuvées in Detail

Les Prémices: Brut (Base 2018)

Assemblage of Pinot Noir, Pinot Meunier and a touch of Chardonnay, 50% aged in oak barrels. White flowers, apricots, honey and toasted almonds on the nose, vinous and complex on the palate, needs air and time to release its structure.

Pinot Noir · Pinot Meunier · Chardonnay · Dosage n/a · Base 2018 · 50% oak barrel

My Tastings

  • Les Prémices (2018), tasted on 27.01.2025
  • Les Prémices (2018), tasted on 26.01.2025

Facts

Maison Champagne Egly-Ouriet
Village Ambonnay
Region Montagne de Reims
Cru Status Grand Cru
Leadership Francis Egly (Contact in CRM)
Website egly-ouriet.fr
Instagram @eglyouriet

Sources for this portrait: Maison website, my own tastings, CRM data and cross-checks. Fields without sufficient verification remain open.

Cuvées

Questions about this article?

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