Egly Ouriet NV Le Premices Extra Brut

The Wine

A vibrant wine blending Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Pinot Meunier in equal parts and sourced from vineyards on the Massif de Saint-Thierry, near the village of Trigny, northwest of Reims. Bright and precise, with peppery notes and citrus zest. Translated from the French, ‘prémices’ signifies “a beginning.” Derived from the Latin primitiae, which means the first fruits of a harvest, set aside as an offering to the gods in antiquity.

The Winery

Egly-Ouriet is the “Very Top of the Pecking Order in Champagne”

Really stunning notes and scores from Antonio Galloni (Vinous Media) for the newest crop of Domaine Egly-Ouriet Champagne from Ambonnay. Our importer for this wine was one of the first to introduce Egly-Ouriet Champagne to the United States, championing the authenticity and desirability of grower Champagne.

Domaine Egly-Ouriet Champagne is sensual, unforgettable and highly sought after, a “cult” wine for Champagne lovers who crave the power and finesse of Pinot Noir-based wines. What you’ll find at this small family “grower” house is truly vinous Champagne, wines striking in their concentration and complexity.

There are many winemakers who craft fine wine, but a few of them are true artists who redefine the craft. In the 1980s when the estate transitioned from Michael Egly to his son, Francis, it was clear Francis wasn’t going to be satisfied with the status quo. His view of the competition expands beyond the great Champagne houses to include the legendary producers of Burgundy.

Egly’s has adopted and discovered many practices that are anethema to most Champagne houses - he harvests very ripe grapes for example, and ages his wines in barrel for years longer than almost any other Champagne house, then finishes his wines with no/little dosage. Yet his results captivate. Egly-Ouriet Champagne is age-worthy, sumptuous and at times surreal.