Champagne Egly-Ouriet is one of the founding icons of the grower Champagne movement. Francis Egly farms the family's old vines in the Grand Cru village of Ambonnay on the Montagne de Reims, a south-facing slope known for producing some of the most powerful, vinous Pinot Noir in all of Champagne. His approach is closer to that of a top Burgundy domaine than a typical Champagne house: low yields, ploughed soils, organic practices without certification, barrel fermentation, and very long aging before release.

The Millésime is Egly's vintage Grand Cru, built from roughly 70% Pinot Noir and 30% Chardonnay from estate parcels in Ambonnay. The base wines are fermented and raised in oak barrels, then the bottles rest on their lees for many years in the cellar before disgorgement with a minimal dosage. 2017 was a difficult, rain-affected harvest across Champagne, and growers who sorted ruthlessly were rewarded. The result here is a vintage that leans toward freshness and cut rather than sheer weight, with Egly's trademark vinous depth intact.

Why You'll Love It

• A rare vintage release from one of Champagne's most sought-after growers, sourced entirely from Grand Cru Ambonnay.
• The nose opens with dark cherry, dried cranberry, and candied lemon peel, layered with toasted brioche and a wisp of smoke.
• On the palate it is concentrated yet precise, the Pinot Noir fruit carried by bright acidity and a fine, persistent mousse.
• The finish is long and saline, with crushed chalk and roasted nut notes lingering well after the glass is empty.
• A Champagne built for the table and the cellar alike, drinking beautifully now and set to evolve for well over a decade.

How To Serve It

• Serve between 50°F and 54°F, a touch warmer than most Champagne, so its vinous character can fully show.
• No decanting needed, but give it 20 to 30 minutes in the glass to unfold.
• Pour into all-purpose white wine stems rather than flutes to capture the full bouquet.
• Pair with roasted turbot in a Champagne beurre blanc, guinea fowl with morels, or a wedge of 24-month Comté.