Egly-Ouriet Coteaux Champenois Cuvée des Grands Côtés Ambonnay Rouge 2023

Regarded among the pioneers of the Grower Champagne movement, Francis Egly remains today one of its most authoritative voices. Joined by his daughter Clémence, they craft Champagnes of astonishing richness, power and remarkable capacity to age, predominantly from old-vine Pinot Noir grapes across the Grand Cru villages of Ambonnay, Verzenay and Bouzy.

The area was well known for its still, Pinot-based wines long before the rise of sparkling Champagne, so perhaps Egly-Ouriet's foray into still wines is somewhat less surprising. Their only still red wine is made from a selection of very old Pinot Fin (old Pinot Noir clone) vines, grown in a single vineyard directly below 'Les Crayères' in Ambonnay. A south facing aspect, higher clay content in the soil and the venerable age of the vines produce fruit of extraordinary concentration. Fermented with indigenous yeasts and matured in French oak barrels (30% new) for 22 months, the wine is made in very limited quantities.

More reminiscent of red Burgundy than most Coteaux Champenois, this is an unmissable cuvée for devoted Pinot lovers.