April 30, 2024 - Very gentile and fine bubbles, green apple , a lot of finesse in the nose and the mouth, maybe lost a little bit of youth but still very fresh and you can finish the bottle by yourself :)!
March 29, 2024 - Much better than a year ago. This is big and beautiful, with complexity, harmony and grace. Beat out the 08 Comtes and 08 Krug served alongside. I can only imagine how good it will be in 5 years, if only can keep my hands off of them.
January 19, 2024 - semiblind with 2013
Par level. If I had to choice I would go with 2013 because it is a bit fresher and more elegant. A bit more powerful than the 2013 due to the warmer vintage. 98-99
December 13, 2023 - Salon Ficofi Paris walkabout tasting and dinner, no detailed tasting notes. From MAG. Wow, this really showed well. Multi layered, subtle notes of bruised apples, brioche, flowers, oak spice, Selosse like.
November 10, 2023 - Disgorged Avril 2020 after 129 months with 4g/L dosage. Less Egly than usual but still more Egly than the 2013 which I really enjoyed. Ever so light trace of cork taint, impressive structure and length. 94
November 10, 2023 - Very tiny trace of cork taint? Upon opening shows notes of mushroom which is a bit off for a 2008. Very high acidity which pairs well with the oxidative style
October 5, 2023 - 2008 top champagnes - horisontal wine tasting dinner (Rest MG (kg arr)): Second 2008 horisontal champagne half blind tasting dinner. First time June 2021. Back then the vintage was extremely youthful. How is it now? An almost unbelievable development in just 2 years. As a wine enthusiast I must simply surrender. I was skeptical about the drinkability at this point for this extreme vintage. That skepticism was proven wrong. 2008 can definitely be enjoyed now. For me, it's one of my really great tasting experiences. And there has certainly been many... Add to that, the vintage is only in its initial stage of maturation and therefore still youthful but extremely charming and open. I really look forward to tasting the 2008 vintage once a year in the coming many years experiencing the tertiary notes develop.
This time Egly performed very differently from two years ago. Back then the botttle was oxidative in an extremely charming but unusual way and it was a clear winner of the evening. However, to day it was not the favourite of any of my 9 participants. I believe it is with Egly as with many other Growers, the bottles behave extremely differently. You never quite know what you get. Charming but also a little frustrating. This btl. had a creamy mousse, long finish, nutty aromas, lemon and dried apricot. Clearly more developed than the "grande marques" we tasted. Outstanding but not at the same level as in 2021.
June 6, 2023 - TOP SHELF WINE WEEKEND: Initially, there are strong oxidative and nutty notes emanating from this Egly, but with air, it actually becomes more compacted and focused, with requisite cut and acidic tension to balance out the richer and weightier aspects of its delivery. The gravitas is remarkable, especially in juxtaposition (and in complete harmony) with the intricate citrus, yellow apple, pear, cashew dust, limestone, and lightly honeyed notes. This wine was likely my favorite toward the end of consumption (stiff competition to be sure amongst a Salon, Selosse, and Cristal). The Egly just continues to pick up speed and flavor intensity after hours of being open.
I’d consider leaving these alone for a while. Revisit in 5 or so years and I bet you’ll have an uber-complex machine on your hands.
May 27, 2023 - Wild and Crazy Memorial Weekend - Saturday (Chris' Castle aka Melissa's Manor): My first Egly-Ouriet.....and it's a 2008! How fortunate am I? Surprisingly, for me, this held its own against Salon and Selosse! Another Champagne house I had only heard of, but not familiar with! My benchmark Champagne until a few weeks ago was 2008 Cristal. It was dethroned by a 2006 Salon and today, four Champagnes gave it a run for the money, including the 2006 Salon (still champ in my books), the NV Selosse Substance, the 2013 Cristal and this wine.
A quick rundown (which I should have done first and copied, but because I am not the sharpest tool in the shed, I will do on my second to last Champagne note for the day)...in my personal order of preference:
2006 Salon - my choice for Champagne of the night (and perhaps even WOTN). This was my choice for Champagne because it is a total package with the most luscious mouthfeel impeccably balanced fruit, sweetness, minerality, and acidity. The only thing I see better than this bottle of Salon, is a Salon with more age from a stellar vintage....time will tell!
NV Selosse Substance (disgorged in 2011) - Selosse makes a distinct wine utilizing a solera method that is highly oxidized (intentionally). Their Champagne is highly distinctive and quite unique! I love the flavor profile, and hope to someday taste one of their vintage wines too. I will be seeking out a bottle or two of this, even at their ridiculous price....yes, it is that good!
2008 Egly-Ouriet - This Champagne is top notch! Put together beautifully, with plenty of citrus, apple and pear notes, wrapped in toasty oak and a healthy dose of minerality in the form of limestone and saline. This Champagne is delicious now, but should benefit from additional age (at least for my palate).
2013 Cristal - The 2008. is the bar that I use to measure Champagne. The first two Champagnes were a hair better, the third (Egly) is a half a step behind, and this Cristal is a full step behind for my palate. However, let me preface that with a little more detail. I love the creaminess and mousiness of the 2008....for those who favor amore Cristal, acidic and cutting Champagne, the 2013 may very well be your favorite Cristal. Both are very focused, but I would say the acidity in the 2013 is laser focused, while the 2008 is more of a diffused focus, i.e., it hits the. spot, but with finesse rather than power.
So back to the Egly, A very compelling Champagne that will only get better. This Champer is still showing its youth! 98- right now, but a great chance to move up in the pecking order with additional time.
May 27, 2023 - Memorial Day Weekend, Day 1: Inglourious Basterds: Aromas of clean, soft yeast notes that is somewhat light and lofty, with soft fruits and their gentle bitter skins (think halved apples and getting a scent of the flesh and gentle bitter core).
Flavors of deep and dark yellow fruits with soft white bitter fruits. Deeper yeast notes on the palate but melds well with the fruits. The bitterness here is delicious with the fruits.
Another first. Scored this the same as the Salon but this takes the lead by just a hair.