Among the rarest and most celebrated wines produced by Egly-Ouriet, Les Crayères is a single-vineyard Blanc de Noirs made entirely from old-vine Pinot Noir. “VV” stands for Vieilles Vignes, or “old vines.” The fruit comes exclusively from the legendary Les Crayères parcel, located just east of the Grand Cru village of Ambonnay in the Montagne de Reims.
Planted largely in 1946...Show More >
Among the rarest and most celebrated wines produced by Egly-Ouriet, Les Crayères is a single-vineyard Blanc de Noirs made entirely from old-vine Pinot Noir. “VV” stands for Vieilles Vignes, or “old vines.” The fruit comes exclusively from the legendary Les Crayères parcel, located just east of the Grand Cru village of Ambonnay in the Montagne de Reims.
Planted largely in 1946 and 1947, the vineyard occupies a prized south-facing site with only a thin layer of topsoil above a deep bed of pure chalk. The name Les Crayères itself refers to this intensely chalky terroir. The combination of very old vines, low yields and chalk-rich soils produces Pinot Noir of extraordinary concentration, minerality and natural freshness.
The grapes are harvested by hand and fermented with indigenous yeasts in French oak barrels. Malolactic fermentation is avoided to preserve the wine’s energy and acidity. The wine is matured in barrel, with only a small proportion of new oak, before spending approximately six years on its lees in bottle. It is disgorged with an exceptionally low dosage and bottled without fining or filtration, preserving its depth, texture and individual vineyard character. Exact base vintages, dosage and disgorgement dates may vary by release.
Deep golden in color, Les Crayères is powerful, vinous and remarkably complex. Aromas of ripe pear, dried apple, red berries and bitter orange unfold alongside toasted brioche, roasted nuts, honey, cocoa and warm baking spices. The palate is full-bodied and concentrated, with a fine, persistent mousse and layers of red fruit, ginger, cardamom and toasted pastry. Its richness is balanced by mouthwatering acidity, pronounced chalky structure and a long, saline mineral finish.
Although immediately impressive, this is a Champagne built to develop gracefully in the cellar. Additional bottle age will reveal even greater complexity while preserving the wine’s remarkable power and precision.
An exceptional Champagne for the table, it pairs beautifully with smoked salmon, lobster, roasted poultry, duck, charcuterie, wild mushrooms and richly flavored fish. It is also outstanding with aged Comté, Parmesan and other firm, mature cheeses.
It is made from 100% Pinot Noir, sourced from old vines in the Grand Cru Les Crayères vineyard in Ambonnay.
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