2012 Champagne Egly Ouriet Brut Millésime Grand Cru

Egly-Ouriet is a family-owned champagne house with a history dating back to 1930. The estate was founded by Francis Egly in Ambonnay, a Grand Cru village in the Montagne de Reims region of Champagne, France. Ambonnay is best known for its high-quality Pinot Noirs and this grape variety has played an important role in the identity of Egly-Ouriet Champagnes. Francis Egly started the estate with a commitment to produce exceptional wines that would showcase Ambonnay's unique terroir. Over the years, the estate expanded its holdings to include vineyards in other prestigious Grand Cru villages such as Verzenay, Bouzy and Aÿ. These villages are known for their favorable conditions for viticulture, which contribute to the production of high quality grapes. The torch was passed to Francis' son, Gaston Egly, and later to Michel Egly, the founder's grandson. Michel has continued the family's commitment to crafting artisan champagnes that express the character of the terroir. Under Michel's leadership, Egly-Ouriet has gained recognition as one of the best producers in Champagne.

One of Egly-Ouriet's distinguishing features is its dedication to traditional winemaking methods. The estate places a strong emphasis on viticulture, with a focus on organic and sustainable farming practices. The grapes are harvested by hand and the winemaking process includes a soft pressing and fermentation in oak barrels. Egly-Ouriet is also known for its long aging of wines on the lees, which contributes to the complexity, richness and aging potential of their champagnes. Egly-Ouriet is celebrated for its commitment to producing wines that reflect the individuality of each vintage and vineyard plot. The house is known for its non-interventionist approach, allowing the grapes and terroir to speak for themselves in the final wines. Over the years, Egly-Ouriet has built a reputation for its exceptional Blanc de Noirs champagnes, often dominated by Pinot Noir, and its commitment to expressing the unique characteristics of the Montagne de Reims terroir.

Egly-Ouriet is known for its traditional and meticulous winemaking techniques. The estate owns and manages its vineyards, allowing control over grape quality and ensuring that the wines reflect the unique characteristics of the terroir. The vineyards are mainly located in the Grand Cru villages of Ambonnay, Verzenay, Bouzy and Aÿ, which are known for their excellent Pinot Noir and Chardonnay grapes. The production process involves manual harvest, soft pressing of the grapes and fermentation in oak barrels. Egly-Ouriet is known for its long aging on the lees, which contributes to the complexity and depth of their champagnes. Egly-Ouriet produces a range of cuvées, each with different grape varieties and terroirs.

Francis Egly's 2012 Brut Grand Cru Millésime is brilliant. But it is also a serious, structured wine that needs time to settle down. Delivering complex aromas of pear, honeycomb, orange oil, sweet stone fruits, praline and freshly baked bread, it is full, deep and muscular, with a multi-dimensional core of fruit, spicy acidity and a long, resonant finish. Built around a spicy acidity and huge reserves of chalky extract. It is a long Champagne, precise and remarkably elegant for such a powerful wine. Make no mistake, this is one of the best Champagnes of this vintage, but just like the 2008, it will require patience. As it gets older, though, I wouldn't be surprised if it got a triple-digit score.

FACT : The wine is stored in our conditioned Wine Warehouse and if you pick up the wine you will often receive a nice discount. You will immediately see the possible discount if you choose Pickup in the Checkout page. We are almost next to the Rijksweg with plenty of parking. Click here for address.