Egly-Ouriet | Les Vignes de Vrigny | Premier Cru Extra Brut | Vrigny, Montagne de Reims, Champagne | Practicing Organic
Egly-Ouriet is one of Champagne's most revered grower-producers, based in the Grand Cru village of Ambonnay on the Montagne de Reims. Francis Egly farms his parcels with meticulous care — practicing organic viticulture, harvesting by hand, and working exclusively with indigenous yeasts — producing Champagnes of uncommon depth, vinous texture, and site-driven precision.
Les Vignes de Vrigny is a rare and compelling single-vineyard Champagne made entirely from 100% Pinot Meunier — a grape variety most often used as a supporting component in Champagne blends, but here given a prestigious solo presentation. The fruit comes from a single east-facing parcel of vines more than 50 years old in the Premier Cru village of Vrigny, located in the northern Montagne de Reims. This sector's chalk-rich slopes provide the freshness, mineral character, and structure necessary to produce a serious, age-worthy Champagne.
Unlike most Egly-Ouriet cuvées, Les Vignes de Vrigny is fermented and matured in stainless steel to preserve the purity, brightness, and aromatic character of the Pinot Meunier. Malolactic fermentation is blocked to retain natural acidity and energy. The wine spends approximately 36 months aging on its lees before disgorgement, and is finished with a dosage of approximately 2 grams per liter — bottled unfined and unfiltered.
Expressive and inviting on the nose: wild strawberry, raspberry, red apple, and ripe orchard fruit, with dried flowers, fresh bread, hazelnut, and gentle spice. The palate is energetic and beautifully textured — fine mousse, vibrant acidity, and a distinctive combination of ripe fruit and chalky mineral tension, with red berries, pear, citrus peel, toasted grain, and savory spice leading to a persistent, dry, and gently saline finish.
An exceptional demonstration of the complexity Pinot Meunier can achieve when grown in a distinguished site and treated with the same care reserved for Champagne's most celebrated varieties. Excellent as an aperitif; pairs beautifully with charcuterie, smoked salmon, roast chicken, pork, duck, mushroom dishes, grilled fish, and moderately aged cheeses.
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Producer: Egly-Ouriet
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Cuvée: Les Vignes de Vrigny
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Classification: Premier Cru Extra Brut
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Appellation: Vrigny, Montagne de Reims, Champagne, France
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Vineyard: Single east-facing estate parcel
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Grape Variety: 100% Pinot Meunier
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Vine Age: 50+ years
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Farming: Practicing organic
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Soils: Chalk-rich
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Fermentation: Indigenous yeasts; stainless steel
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Malolactic Fermentation: Blocked
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Lees Aging: ~36 months
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Dosage: ~2 g/L
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Bottling: Unfined and unfiltered
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Bottle Size: 750ml
Critical Acclaim
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Decanter — 93 pts: Fragrant and focused, with notes of fresh apricot, almond, ripe orange fruit, and bright citrus. Praised for its clarity, freshness, and precise, energetic character.
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Jeb Dunnuck — 93 pts: Fresh and energetic, offering notes of raspberry, strawberry, wet stone, and freshly baked bread. Finely textured, with chalky minerality, vibrant acidity, and a long finish.
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Wine Advocate — 92 pts: Aromas of green apple, white flowers, freshly baked bread, and crushed mint lead to a pure, vinous, and beautifully precise palate with lively acidity and a savory finish.
Critic reviews may refer to different base vintages and disgorgements of this non-vintage Champagne. Base vintages, reserve-wine proportions, lees-aging period, dosage, and disgorgement date may vary by release.
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