The fourth generation of Egly-Ouriet growers, Francis Egly has taken the family domaine to great heights of popularity and quality. His hallmark of strong farming to create perfect ripeness has been often mimicked by many an aspiring vigneron. Combine that with barrel fermentations and extended lees aging creates the highly sought-after texture and depth of Egly-Ouriet's wines.
Housed in the Grand Cry village of Ambonnay, Egly has long been a specialist of Pinot Noir, but the house holds old-vine plots of Chardonnay in Verzenay and Meunier in Vrigny as well. All of the plots are harvested by hand and in the winery fruit is handled very gently, cooling the cellar so as to avoid any risk of oxygenation. All pressings are done extremely carefully, and only the very finest juice (cuvée) is used for the house wines. No wines see less than 4 years' aging on the lees before release, and seldom does dosage exceed 5g/L.
Simultaneously omnipresent and hotly pursued by collectors, Egly belongs in every cellar. His wines are like sparkling versions of Burgundy, with the utmost finesse and character. Growers from all over Europe have become such fans, to the point that Anselme Selosse utilizes Egly's Coteaux Rouge as the source for the color in his rosé (just as Egly does for his own). Surely, countless others would do the same if they could!