NOTE: Latest Disgorgement Jul 2025 - World First!
Region: Ambonnay, Champagne, France
Variety: 100% Pinot Noir (from 70+ year old vines)
Site: Les Crayères Grand Cru
Vintages: 2018 (50%), 2017 (50%)
Bottling: 2019
Disgorgement: July 2025
Time on lees: 72 months
The Wine
One of the most sought-after Champagnes in the world. Les Crayères comes from a tiny Grand Cru parcel of ancient Pinot Noir vines. The fruit comes from old Pinot Noir vines in a single terroir known as Les Crayères. The vines here were planted in 1946, so they are now 80 years old (vines of this age are extremely rare in Champagne). The soil is barely 30cm deep, then it’s chalk, hundreds of metres down—hence the name of the site (craie is French for ‘chalk’; crayères references chalk quarries which likely once existed here). Les Crayères is situated mid-slope with a full south-facing exposure, not far from the Estate’s cellars. The old vines are deeply rooted, giving the wine a classic mineral energy that weaves its way through the powerful, layered Pinot Noir fruit. The deep concentration is a product of the ripeness and low yields that the site and its ancient vines confer.
Fermented in oak, aged for 60+ months on lees and bottled with minimal dosage, this wine is renowned for power, density and chalk-driven structure.
From a year Francis Egly described as “perfect,” the 2018 base is a tribute to the greatest sites of Ambonnay and the Egly-Ouriet Domaine. Houses that emphasise blending may consider a 100% old-vine Ambonnay like this to be too intense; Egly gives it to you full throttle! This release has both profound depth and incredible finesse. It’s still early days for the nose (if you open it now, give it time), while the palate is already stunning: a layered yet chiselled, mineral mouth bomb. The dosage is only 1 g/L, and it’s invisible.
Cellared Says
A monumental Blanc de Noirs — profound, structured and unforgettable. True collector Champagne. Very limited.
Wine Reviews (Previous Releases, we are the first market in the world to see these wines)
Antonio Galloni, Vinous – 97 Points
“One of the world’s great Champagnes. Explosive, deep and intensely mineral.”
William Kelley, Wine Advocate – 96+ Points
“Hugely concentrated Pinot Noir expression. Chalk, spice and remarkable persistence.”
NOTE: Latest Disgorgement Jul 2025 - World First!
Region: Ambonnay, Champagne, France
Variety: 100% Pinot Noir (from 70+ year old vines)
Site: Les Crayères Grand Cru
Vintages: 2018 (50%), 2017 (50%)
Bottling: 2019
Disgorgement: July 2025
Time on lees: 72 months
The Wine
One of the most sought-after Champagnes in the world. Les Crayères comes from a tiny Grand Cru parcel of ancient Pinot Noir vines. The fruit comes from old Pinot Noir vines in a single terroir known as Les Crayères. The vines here were planted in 1946, so they are now 80 years old (vines of this age are extremely rare in Champagne). The soil is barely 30cm deep, then it’s chalk, hundreds of metres down—hence the name of the site (craie is French for ‘chalk’; crayères references chalk quarries which likely once existed here). Les Crayères is situated mid-slope with a full south-facing exposure, not far from the Estate’s cellars. The old vines are deeply rooted, giving the wine a classic mineral energy that weaves its way through the powerful, layered Pinot Noir fruit. The deep concentration is a product of the ripeness and low yields that the site and its ancient vines confer.
Fermented in oak, aged for 60+ months on lees and bottled with minimal dosage, this wine is renowned for power, density and chalk-driven structure.
From a year Francis Egly described as “perfect,” the 2018 base is a tribute to the greatest sites of Ambonnay and the Egly-Ouriet Domaine. Houses that emphasise blending may consider a 100% old-vine Ambonnay like this to be too intense; Egly gives it to you full throttle! This release has both profound depth and incredible finesse. It’s still early days for the nose (if you open it now, give it time), while the palate is already stunning: a layered yet chiselled, mineral mouth bomb. The dosage is only 1 g/L, and it’s invisible.
Cellared Says
A monumental Blanc de Noirs — profound, structured and unforgettable. True collector Champagne. Very limited.
Wine Reviews (Previous Releases, we are the first market in the world to see these wines)
Antonio Galloni, Vinous – 97 Points
“One of the world’s great Champagnes. Explosive, deep and intensely mineral.”
William Kelley, Wine Advocate – 96+ Points
“Hugely concentrated Pinot Noir expression. Chalk, spice and remarkable persistence.”
