Description: Champagne Grand Cru Blanc de Noirs Les Crayères| Egly-Ouriet
Egly-Ouriet’s Champagne Grand Cru Blanc de Noirs Les Crayères is one of the estate’s rarest cuvées. It is produced from a single vineyard plot located in the hamlet of Les Crayères, in Ambonnay, a village classified as a Grand Cru. Renowned for its Pinot Noir, this terroir in the Montagne de Reims yields a champagne that fully expresses its character.
Terroir and Grape Variety
The lieu-dit Les Crayères takes its name from the chalk found in its soils. This well-drained limestone subsoil gives the wine its freshness and minerality. The vineyards are planted with 100% Pinot Noir, planted in 1946 and 1947. Over 75 years old, they produce few grapes but yield concentrated wines that fully express the character of the Ambonnay terroir.
Viticulture and Winemaking
The estate cultivates its vineyards using organic farming methods, though it is not certified. The grapes are harvested by hand and then vinified in oak barrels using indigenous yeasts. Malolactic fermentation is often avoided to preserve the wine’s freshness and natural acidity. The champagne is then aged for 72 months on its lees—six years in the cellar—before being disgorged. It is unfiltered and receives a dosage of approximately 1 g/L, classifying it as an extra-brut. This winemaking approach allows the Pinot Noir and the Ambonnay terroir to fully express themselves.
Champagne Grand Cru Blanc de Noirs Les Crayères | Egly-Ouriet: The Expert Sommelier’s Opinion
Philippe Mischler, sommelier at Mundovin
Within theEgly-Ouriet range, the Blanc de Noirs Les Crayères is a cuvée in a class of its own. Sourced from a single plot of old Pinot Noir vines, it fully reflects the terroir of Ambonnay. After six years on the lees, unfiltered and with a very low dosage, it retains all its freshness and character. It combines power, freshness, and chalky notes with beautiful depth. It is an expression of Ambonnay’s Pinot Noir that is both precise and full of character. It benefits from being lightly aerated before serving, ideally at 10 to 12 °C, in attractive glasses.
The Nose
The nose reveals a lovely bouquet of white fruits and fresh flowers, accompanied by delicate notes of almond and hazelnut. A subtle chalky minerality adds freshness and precision to the overall profile.
Palate
On the palate, this Champagne offers a beautiful texture that is both full-bodied and silky. The Pinot Noir lends it body and depth, while the fine bubbles elegantly complement the whole. Notes of ripe red fruits mingle with delicate brioche-like nuances, carried by a freshness that adds depth to the wine. A full-bodied and balanced champagne that naturally finds its place at the table.
Champagne Grand Cru: An Appellation at the Top of the Champagne Hierarchy
The designation “Champagne Grand Cru” refers to villages classified as 100% Grand Cru on the Champagne classification scale—seventeen communes out of more than three hundred. Ambonnay is one of them and is particularly renowned for its great Pinot Noirs, which find an ideal terroir in its chalky soils.
Les Crayères d’Egly-Ouriet fully expresses the character of Ambonnay. It features a Pinot Noir that is both generous and fresh, with a lovely mineral quality. It is aged for six years on the lees, unfiltered, and has a very low dosage of 1 g/L. A unique cuvée that showcases the terroir and the estate’s craftsmanship.
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