Base 2014, Disgorged July 2022

Region: Champagne, FRA

Variety: Pinot Noir, Chardonnay

Francis Egly, alongside Jacques—and now Anselme—Selosse, and Pierre and Sophie Larmandier were a few of the earliest proponents of thoughtful viticulture and site-specific Champagne. 

Egly’s holdings are predominantly Grand Cru and pinot noir dominant so that his Champagnes have become known for their richness and texture. 

The V.P. stands for Vieillissement Prolongé (prolonged aging), as this wine spends an extended period on lees—in this case 84 months. It is a blend of 70% Pinot Noir and 30% Chardonnay, and as for the Brut, the fruit is also from Ambonnay, Bouzy and Verzenay—all great Grand Cru terroirs. Vinification and élevage was in oak casks, and the dosage was a tiny three grams per litre.

The power of the fruit, plus the extended lees aging grants such harmony, so much length, so much complexity and texture, that the dosage seems irrelevant. It’s a vinous, powerful, super-pure Champagne of great depth and class. Intense and statuesque, there’s so much finesse as well…