Les Crayeres, Ambonnay, Grand Cru, Blanc de Noirs, Brut, nv
From Pinot Noir planted in 1946–47 on barely 30cm of topsoil over deep chalk—a genuinely singular site. The nose is profound and multidimensional: honeyed nuts, spearmint, ceps, red berry cream and citrus. The oak élevage contributes depth and vibration rather than weight. Vinous, concentrated and driven by a powerful chalky line, this is more “great wine” than “Champagne”. Iconic, and rightly so.
critic reviews
A 50/50 blend of two high-maturity vintages, 2019 and 2018, and disgorged in May 2026 with a dosage of one gram per liter, the NV Blanc de Noirs Grand Cru Les Crayères is brilliant, demonstrating what high-quality massal-selection material is capable of in a great terroir. Unfurling from the glass with a deep bouquet of Anjou pear, mandarin oil, brioche and lemon confit mingled with nuts, it is medium- to full-bodied, layered and concentrated, with a richly flavored core of fruit enlivened by racy acidity and a pillowy mousse, concluding with a long, saline finish. Simultaneously grandiose and vibrant, it has every prerequisite to develop beautifully over the next decade or more. It is the standout wine in the cellar this year. Readers will recall that it is sourced from a south-facing lieu-dit in Ambonnay planted between 1946 and 1947 in shallow soils, with just 30 centimeters of topsoil over chalk bedrock.
A blend of the 2016 and 2015 vintages, the NV Brut Blanc de Noirs Grand Cru Les Crayeres is an especially good rendition of this almost routinely sublime bottling. Unwinding in the glass with notes of pear, wild berries, clear honey, white flowers, praline and freshly baked bread, it's medium to full-bodied, beautifully layered and textural, with a taut, concentrated core, racy acids and a long, mineral finish. This chiseled, intensely flavored Champagne was disgorged this year with only one gram per liter dosage.
The only single vineyard cuvée produced by Egly Ouriet, the Grand Cru Blanc de Noirs NV comes from an old-vine plot in Les Crayeres with very deep chalky soils. 50% of this barrel fermented cuvée is from the 2016 vintage with the other 50% from 2015. Light rose gold in color, it explodes from the glass with wonderfully complex and expressive red berry, black cherry, wilted rose, yuzu confit, toasted brioche and honey aromas. Medium-bodied with abundant ripe citrus and red currant concentration, the super fine mousse is infused with racy, filigreed acidity that adds finesse to the exceptionally long and chalky finish with hints of lemon peel. Disgorged July 2023 and finished with two grams per liter dosage.