Champagne Egly-Ouriet 1er Cru Les Vignes de Vrigny NV

As always, this is 100% Pinot Meunier from a single, 40-year-old, south facing vineyard in Vrigny, a commune located on the Petite Montagne de Reims (very close to Gueux, where Jérôme Prévost is based). Straight Pinot Meunier remains a rarity in Champagne, and in Egly’s hands it is something unique. Low yields, old vines and ripe fruit make this one of the most intense, layered and opulent Meunier wines kicking around. It’s spicy, fruity, fleshy, yet very mineral. Bottled without filtration. Dosage for this bottling was a tiny one gram per litre.