Egly-Ouriet, "Les Prémices"

I’ve watched Egly-Ouriet go from insider’s handshake to full-blown cult phenomenon in what feels like the blink of an eye. Ten years ago, one had to explain why these wines mattered; now, we have to explain why the wines are no longer available to most consumers. I still remember selling Egly’s 2008 Vintage on release for $250 and thinking it was serious money. Today, that same champagne retails for $1,000. Les Crayères is pushing $400. The V.P. is comfortably at $200. Even the Brut Rosé and Brut Tradition have crossed well beyond $100. This is what happens when the market catches up to greatness. Demand surges, allocations shrink, and suddenly the wines that once defined value become trophies. But here’s the thing—and it’s why I’m writing you today—one champagne has somehow slipped through the frenzy: Egly-Ouriet’s Les Prémices. It’s the last door left ajar. The last Egly Champagne under $100. Delicious, complex, and laced with Egly’s unmistakable  signature of leesy richness, Les Prémices is like Mozart playing Happy Birthday. Simple on paper, transcendent in execution. All I can say is buy it at this price while you still can!

The story of Egly-Ouriet is one of patience and precision. The domaine is based in Ambonnay, one of Champagne’s iconic Grand Cru villages, and while the Egly family has roots there going back generations, it was Francis Egly who transformed the estate into the powerhouse that it is today. When he took over in the 1980s, the focus shifted dramatically toward estate bottling and elevating quality at every step. Yields were reduced. Farming became more meticulous. Time in the cellar was extended far beyond the norm. While many producers chased volume, Egly chased depth, nuance and extraordinary vinous character. Over time, importers, sommeliers, and collectors took notice. And then, almost overnight, the broader market followed. Today, Egly easily belongs to Champagne’s most elite firmament of growers.

Les Prémices, however, tells a slightly different story and that’s part of its appeal. It is an equal blend of Champagne's three noble grapes—Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Meunier—sourced primarily from vines in Massif de Saint-Thierry, near the village of Trigny, northwest of Reims. In the cellar, the philosophy remains unchanged: indigenous fermentations, aging the wine on lees much longer than required, and bottling without fining or filtration. What really sets Les Prémices apart is its immediacy—it’s crafted to be approachable earlier than the rest of the range, yet it never sacrifices the house’s signature depth and structure. It’s a wine that bridges worlds: serious enough for the cellar, generous enough for enjoying on a weekend this summer.

In the glass, Les Prémices is a study in balance and nuance, delivering far more than its position in the lineup might suggest. Aromatically, it opens with a delicate interplay of orchard fruit—plum skin, bruised apples, Bosc pear—layered with brioche, crushed almonds, candied ginger and delicate white flowers. On the palate, the mousse is fine and persistent, carrying a core of vibrant acidity that keeps everything taut and focused. The mid-palate reveals a lovely creaminess, a hallmark of Egly’s extended lees aging, that concludes with a long, clean, deeply mineral finish. This bottle is such a pleasure to drink. And we should count ourselves lucky that we still have the opportunity to do so for less than $100.