93pts Decanter

This cuvée is always such a clear-eyed picture of snappy, fragrant Meunier full of just-ripe apricot, fresh almonds and an almost citric focus on the palate. Based on the 2019 vintage with reserves from 2018 and 2017, there's plenty of fleshy orange ripeness from these two years, but not an inch of fat. This needs at least six months post-disgorgement to really come out of itself. A 100% Meunier from the village of Vrigny in the Petite Montagne de Reims. No oak.

91pts Vinous

The NV (2019) Extra Brut Les Vignes di Vrigny is a pretty intense, racy Champagne that very much reflects the intense solar nature of the growing season. Meunier is amplified beautifully here, its richness only tempered by the decision to keep dosage low. Hints of pear, hazelnut, dried citrus peel, spice and chamomile emerge with air. I would be tempted to cellar this for a year or two. Dosage is 2 grams per liter. Disgorged: July 2023.

92pts Robert Parker's Wine Advocate

Based on the 2019 vintage and disgorged this year with three grams per liter dosage, the NV Brut Premier Cru Les Vignes de Vrigny wafts from the glass with aromas of green apple, white flowers, freshly baked bread and crushed mint. Medium to full-bodied, pure and fleshy, it's vinous and precise, with racy acids and a sapid finish.

Winemaker Notes

Few winemakers plant Pinot Meunier on premier cru land; fewer still on terroir that is essentially an extension of the noble Montaigne de Reims. This 100% Pinot Meunier spent 38 months on its lees, way more than any other Pinot Meunier wine in the region. (For most Champagne houses, this is the time they give their very top cuvées; for Egly, this is the minimum.) Remarkably fresh and citrus-driven. Aromas of red currants, roses and lively, warm notes of lemon curd on toast. Rich, fresh and extraordinarily complex on the palate; Mirabelle plums and peaches combine with a peppery energy. A classic Champagne that has no peer.

About the Winery

Francis Egly is the fourth generation of the Egly family to make wines from their exceptionally located, old vine vineyards in the Grand Cru village of Ambonnay (home to some of the greatest Pinot Noir that can be found in all of Champagne), where he is considered the finest grower. Francis took over from his father Michel in 1980, with the intent and commitment to take these already revered Pinot Noir dominant Champagnes to the absolute apex of quality. He began using organic methods in the vineyards, with regular ploughing, and reduced yields. Once the grapes enter his cellar, Francis makes sure to only allow for the gentlest possible extraction, of which he only keeps the purest first pressing (known as the cuvée). Francis believes deeply that complexity and structure comes not only from perfect fruit, but also from extended lees aging. This belief is felt throughout his lineup, with most of his wines undergoing a minimum of 48 months on the lees with some cuvees being aged for 100+ months! All of this meticulous work in both vineyard and cellar has led to his standing by both his peers, critics and Champagne lovers across the world as one of the greatest growers in all of France.

Blend: 100% Pinot Meunier

RM: Récoltant-Manipulant

Organic