EGLY OURIET Brut Grand Cru Millesime

WA: 97

One of the very finest wines produced in this less heralded vintage is Egly's 2014 Brut Grand Cru Millésime, a strikingly vinous and enveloping Champagne that wafts from the glass with aromas of pear, mirabelle plum, freshly baked bread, almond paste and honeycomb. Full-bodied, satiny and layered, its textural attack segues into a deep, concentrated mid-palate of exceptional purity and cut, concluding with a long, penetrating and mouthwateringly saline finish. As ever, it's a blend of some 70% Pinot Noir with 30% Chardonnay from Ambonnay's greatest terroirs.

VM: 94

The 2014 Extra Brut Millésime Grand Cru is a fine choice for drinking now, as it shows the gently burnished patina of time. Ripe peach, pear, lemon confit, burnt sugar and dried flowers are all typical of a Champagne that has arrived at its first plateau of maturity. The 2014 is super-expressive today, but I would not push my luck on aging. Dosage is 1 gram per liter. Disgorged: July 2023.

WA: 97+

From a sunny vintage in which the harvest—commencing relatively late, on September 20—proved ultimately rewarding, Egly’s 2015 Grand Cru Millésime has turned out remarkably elegant. A classic blend of 70% Pinot Noir and 30% Chardonnay from Ambonnay, it was disgorged in October 2024 with a dosage of one gram per liter—significantly lower than the 2008 edition, when Egly needed to temper the pronounced acidity. The wine bursts from the glass with an evocative bouquet of pear, red plum and fresh bread, mingling with vibrant citrus nuances. On the palate, it is deep, full-bodied and layered, showcasing remarkable concentration and a crystalline core of fruit. A bright spine of acidity and abundant chalky extract provide both structure and sensation of freshness, culminating in a persistent, reverberating finish. While this vintage is occasionally marked by subtle vegetal tones—attributable to incomplete ripening under hydric stress—this cuvée exhibits none of those elements. As Francis Egly notes, “It was all about the harvest date, and we certainly didn’t rush to pick the grapes.” Fine-boned and effortlessly graceful, this small release possesses all the attributes necessary for a long evolution.

VM: 96

The 2015 Extra Brut Millésime Grand Cru is an unqualified success from Egly-Ouriet in a vintage that has proven to be uneven throughout Champagne. Citrus peel, white flowers, sage and white pepper abound. There’s gorgeous freshness and tension, with none of the vegetal notes found at many addresses. The 2015 doesn't quite have the stature of some prior vintages, but it is supremely delicious and inviting. Impeccable. Dosage is 1 gram per liter. Disgorged: July 2024.

WA: 99

Broad and powerful, Egly's 2012 Brut Grand Cru Millésime is a serious, vinous Champagne somewhat reminiscent of his brilliant 2002. Delivering complex aromas of pear, honeycomb, orange oil, sweet stone fruits, praline and freshly baked bread, it's full-bodied, deep and muscular, with a multidimensional core of fruit, racy acids and a long, resonant finish. Complex and compelling, readers will have a hard time choosing between the power and texture of 2012 and the quintessentially elegant, seamless 2013. Both are benchmarks for what contemporary Champagne can achieve.

VM: 98

The 2012 Brut Millésime Grand Cru is a Champagne of tremendous finesse and nuance, with the Chardonnay really driving the balance today. Chalk, white pepper, mint, sage and dried pear are some of the notes that come alive in the glass. Readers will find a brilliant, finely cut Champagne endowed with tremendous energy, especially for the year. This is pure class.