Champagne Egly-Ouriet Grand Cru Ambonnay Rouge Cuvée des Grands Côtés Vielles Vignes #2 2012

Egly-Ouriet's Ambonnay Rouge is a still red wine from the grand cru village of Ambonnay, not a Champagne, made from old-vine Pinot Noir on the Grands Côtés slope.

Still wines from Champagne carry the Coteaux Champenois appellation, and red versions are made in tiny quantity from Pinot Noir in the warmest, best-exposed grand cru sites. Ambonnay, on the south-facing flank of the Montagne de Reims, is the most reliable of them. Egly-Ouriet is a grower estate based in the village, long known for building its wines on very ripe Pinot Noir, low yields and extended ageing, and its Ambonnay Rouge is drawn from old vines at Les Grands Côtés. This second bottling of the cuvée is made in the same way. Chalk close to the surface and a marginal ripening climate give a red of clear structure and drive rather than weight, closer in build to the Côte de Nuits than to anything Mediterranean.

Approachable now and worth a decade in a cool cellar. Serve at 16-18°C with roast duck, mushroom risotto or a coq au vin.

*Every effort is made to ensure the current vintage is accurate; however, variations can occur. If you are after a specific vintage, please contact us prior to ordering.