Egly-Ouriet : Blanc de Noirs Grand Cru Vieilles Vignes "Les Crayères"

Characteristics and Tasting Tips for Egly-Ouriet's Blanc de Noirs Grand Cru Vieilles Vignes "Les Crayères"

Tasting

Appearance
Revealing a radiant golden-yellow hue, this wine stands out for its perfect clarity and exceptionally fine effervescence, with persistent bubbles that underscore its freshness.

Nose
Remarkably complex, the bouquet opens with a striking mineral tension. It releases rich aromas of ripe fruit, ranging from pear to red and yellow fruits, intertwined with notes of orange peel and dried flowers. Subtle pastry touches of brioche, dried fruits and toasted hazelnuts blend harmoniously with spicier nuances reminiscent of saffron and dried hay.

Palate
Both ample and energetic, the palate offers a creamy, generous texture, perfectly balanced by vibrant tension and mouthwatering acidity. The concentrated fruit, carried by flavours of red berries, plum and brioche, stretches elegantly into a long finish marked by a superb chalky, saline signature.

Food and Wine Pairings

This great gastronomic wine pairs beautifully with roast poultry, delicate white meats such as veal, or fine fish served with rich sauces. Its mineral, saline structure also makes it an ideal companion for crustaceans and shellfish, as well as dishes showcasing mushrooms or truffles.

Serving and Cellaring

To appreciate the full complexity of the non-vintage Blanc de Noirs Grand Cru Vieilles Vignes "Les Crayères", it is best served at a temperature between 10 and 12°C. With exceptional ageing potential, this Champagne can be cellared and enjoyed until around 2040.

The Purity and Depth of a Great Blanc de Noirs Champagne from Egly-Ouriet

The Estate

Founded in 1945, just after the Second World War, the Egly-Ouriet house has established itself as an essential benchmark in Champagne. Located in Ambonnay, in the heart of the Montagne de Reims, the family estate farms around ten hectares of vines, mostly classified as Grand Cru. Historically shaped by the pioneering choices of Francis Egly, the estate is now run by the fourth generation, Clémence and Charles Egly. Working with great discretion and according to organic principles, the estate is renowned for its barrel fermentations and extended ageing, producing wines of remarkable vinosity.

The Vineyard

This cuvée comes from the "Les Crayères" lieu-dit, located on the eastern side of the village of Ambonnay in Champagne. South-facing, this historic 1.8-hectare plot is home to very old vines planted in 1946 and 1947 from massal selections. The uniqueness of this terroir lies in its extremely thin soil: a layer of clay-limestone barely thirty centimetres deep resting directly on a deep bed of pure chalk, forcing the roots to draw their minerality from far below.

The Blend

In order to smooth out vintage variations while preserving the pure identity of the terroir, this Blanc de Noirs Champagne is made from a blend of two consecutive years, with the most recent harvest generally forming the majority.

Vinification and Ageing

The making of the non-vintage Blanc de Noirs Grand Cru Vieilles Vignes "Les Crayères" relies on demanding technical choices. Fermentation, triggered by indigenous yeasts, and one year of ageing both take place entirely in oak barrels, a small proportion of which are new. Notably, malolactic fermentation is systematically blocked to preserve maximum tension. Neither fined nor filtered, the wine then ages sur lattes for around six years, benefiting from prolonged autolysis before disgorgement.

Grape Variety

100% Pinot Noir