NV Egly-Ouriet VP Grand Cru Extra Brut (2024 Release)

Disgorged in October 2024, after seven years sur lattes and with a dosage of one gram per liter, Egly's latest NV Grand Cru V.P. is based on the 2016 vintage (50%) with the remainder coming from 2015 and 2014. Opening in the glass with aromas of red apple, honeysuckle and tangerine zest mingling with spices, it is medium- to full-bodied and layered yet racy and fresh, supported by the incisive profile of the base year and concluding with a long, chalky finish. While not a young wine on paper, it certainly feels youthful in the glass, combining freshness with the complexity that comes with such long aging on the lees.

The NV Champagne V.P. stands for Vieille Prolongée, because it is aged longer, seeing 7 years on the lees before disgorgement. A blend 70% Pinot and the rest Chardonnay, based on 2016 and with reserve wine from 2015 and 2014, they made this blend in 2017. Offering wonderfully pure aromas of cherry liqueur, eau de vie, fresh flowers, and crushed rocks, it’s full-bodied on the palate and has broad shoulders but retains a very focused and well-defined feel, with outstanding concentration and purity, a fantastically long finish, and a remarkably youthful feel. It’s beautiful now but has the potential for a lot of longevity and is going to be wonderful to check in on.

As usual, the latest disgorgement of Egly's NV Extra-Brut Grand Cru V.P., this year based on the 2015 vintage complemented by reserve wines from 2014 and 2013, is one of the highlights of the range. Wafting from the glass with aromas of pear, green apple, freshly baked bread, crushed mint, honeycomb, white flowers and praline, it's medium to full-bodied, fleshy and layered, with a racy and concentrated core, a pretty pinpoint mousse and a long, saline finish.