Égly-Ouriet

Based in Ambonnay, at the heart of the Montagne de Reims, Égly-Ouriet is now one of the leading names in grower Champagne. Francis Egly, the fourth generation of the family, took over the estate in the early 1980s and gave it a radical new identity: deliberately low yields, rigorously hand-sorted harvests, and winemaking approached in much the same way as that of a great still wine. The vineyard, predominantly classified as Grand Cru, extends across Ambonnay, Bouzy and Verzenay, complemented by a parcel of Meunier in Vrigny (Premier Cru) and Chardonnay in Bisseuil. Some vines, planted as early as the late 1940s, have developed exceptionally deep root systems, bringing a rare depth that can be felt in the wines’ pronounced minerality. Since 1995, the base wines have been fermented in oak barrels using indigenous yeasts; since 1999, malolactic fermentation has been blocked to preserve tension and freshness. Ageing on the lees, far longer than the appellation’s usual standards, gives the cuvées remarkable density and aromatic complexity, helping explain their cult status among enthusiasts, both in France and internationally.