Les Vignes de Vrigny, 1er Cru, Brut, nv
Old-vine Meunier rendered in a richer, more gourmand register. The fruit profile is broader and more expressive, with ripe peach, apricot and gentle floral overtones. There is more flesh and amplitude here, but still a finely judged balance, the Meunier bringing a supple, fruit-driven generosity without losing poise.
critic reviews
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.
The NV Vieilles Vignes de Vrigny (Meunier) is one of the best vintages of this cuvée I can remember tasting. Bright and finely cut, the Vieilles Vignes sizzles with tension from start to finish. Dried pear, spice, crushed rocks, mint and white pepper all race out of the glass. Meunier has rarely been so refined, so nuanced. Give this a year or two to unwind. Dosage is 2 grams per liter. Disgorged: September, 2022.
The NV Egly Ouriet, Les Vignes de Vrigny Premier Cru Brut is 100% Pinot Meunier, 50% from the 2017 vintage, 30% from 2016, and 20% from 2015. It comes from an east-facing single plot in the Vrigny 1er Cru. Indigenous yeasts are used, no malolactic, and it is fermented and aged in stainless steel. It was disgorged after 36 months on lees in July 2020 and has 1 g/L dosage. The nose is a little reduced to begin, opening out to notes of baked apples, lemongrass, fresh hay, and lime leaves with touches of wet slate and coriander seed. The palate is bone dry and steely with subtle citrus and apple flavors and frothy bubbles, finishing refreshing if a tad short on flavor. It's a solid Champagne, for sure, but disappointing considering what else is out there at this price point.