Egly Ouriet 'Tradition' Grand Cru Brut Champagne

Critical Acclaim: 95 pts Decanter; 94 pts Jeb Dunnuck; 93 pts Wine Spectator; 92 pts Robert Parker's Wine Advocate.  Tasting Notes: "Although this appears as the 'house' non-vintage, in character it is more akin to a vintage wine that needs some time on cork. Tasted young, the saturated fruit – apricot, spiced apples, grilled lemons – is already expressive, yet not fully unsprung. Based on 2018 with 40% reserves back to 2016, the heat of 2018 is in the fruit profile rather than weight or grip, and is more about persistence than pure power, underlined by the oak élevage yet not coloured by it. 70% Pinot Noir and 30% Chardonnay from Ambonnay, Bouzy and Verzenay. 100% barrel fermentation."- Decanter.  "Based on 70% Pinot Noir and 30% Chardonnay, the NV Champagne Grand Cru Brut has a killer nose of baked apple, crushed citrus, toasted spice, and brioche. This carries to a richer, layered, powerful Champagne with depth, density, and length. I’d be happy to drink bottles any time over the coming decade."- Jeb Dunnuck.  "Chiseled acidity provides firm definition for this chalky Champagne, though it's swathed on the palate by a creamy range of flavors, including passion fruit coulis, toasted almond, blood orange sorbet and lime blossom. A streak of salinity races on the finish."- Wine Spectator.  "Based on the 2018 vintage, Egly's newly released NV Brut Grand Cru offers up inviting aromas of honeyed pear and white flowers mingled with hints of mint and praline. Medium to full-bodied, pillowy and chiseled, it's an especially fine-boned, precise rendition of this immensely dependable cuvée, formerly known as the domaine's "Tradition" bottling."- Robert Parker's Wine Advocate.  About the Winery: Domaine Egly-Ouriet Champagne is sensual, unforgettable and highly sought after, a 'cult' wine for Champagne lovers who crave the power and finesse of Pinot Noir-based wines. What you'll find at this small family 'grower' house is truly vinous Champagne, wines striking in their concentration and complexity. There are winemakers who craft fine wine, and then there are artists who redefine the craft. When we witnessed the transition in the 1980s from Michael Egly to his son, Francis, it was clear that Francis wasn't going to be satisfied with the Champagne status quo. He doesn't consider his competition among the great Champagne houses, but instead among the legendary producers of Burgundy. Egly's practice of harvesting very ripe grapes and aging his wines in barrel for years longer than almost any other Champagne house are some of the practices that set his art apart from the rest; yet it is the results that captivate. Egly-Ouriet Champagne is age-worthy, sumptuous and at times surreal; these bottles are unquestionably the pinnacle of Pinot Noir-based Champagne. Varietal: 70% Pinot Noir and 30% Chardonnay.