One of the most stunning NV Champagnes on the market! Dark, rich, and deep, this is the epitome of the Egly-Ouriet house style. 75% Pinot Noir and 25% Chardonnay. The vines are between 35 and 40 years old. The sheer ripeness and quality of the fruit allows for a very moderate dosage of 4 grams per liter.

Tasting notes

Golden colored with some hints of green tinges. Lemon and honey suckle butter on the nose with some wet stones, chalk dust, white roses, nuts and cooked peaches on the edges. Lots of pepper and raspberries with white roses here, Mirabelle plums, and lemon and lime rind. Mid palate of baked dried red-fuits with a long finish.

Rating

Wine Spectator 90 points (Dec 31 2007) Whole-grain toast and malt notes characterize this bubbly, whose bass tones are offset by citrus peel and ginger top notes. There's nice harmony and balance, with a malty aftertaste. Drink now through 2010. –BS  Wine Advocate 91 points (Dec 2008) The NV Brut Tradition Grand Cru (75% Pinot Noir, 25% Chardonnay) is made in a muscular, weighty style that reveals impressive richness and density in its fruit. The wine possesses outstanding persistence on the palate but finishes rather tight, suggesting at least a few additional months of bottle age are warranted. This is a distinctly fruit-driven, opulent style of Champagne. The Brut Tradition Grand Cru spent 36 months on its lees and was disgorged in July, 2008. Anticipated maturity: 2008-2011. This range from Francis Egly is one of the most impressive I tasted. Egly farms eight hectares of old-vine plots, the lion’s share of which are in his home base of Ambonnay. The wines are made in a pure, unmanipulated fashion with no filtration in a style that clearly highlights the qualities of variety and terroir to the fullest. Readers will find more details as to the aging of the various bottlings and their disgorgement dates on the back labels. In short, I always look forward to drinking the wines of Egly-Ouriet and I can’t recommend these Champagnes highly enough.