Champagne Extra Brut 'VP' Grand Cru

Score

94

"This is the same as the Grand Cru bottling but with extended lees ageing and, in this case, three years post-disgorgement. The lees ageing brings a remarkable aromatic range and substance on the palate † almost mascarpone with peach tart, macadamia nuts and dried berries, certainly showing some evolution on cork now with a thread of toasted nut and dried spice on the close. Hugely characterful and impressive for a wine of this age based on the complicated 2011 vintage. 70% Pinot Noir and 30% Chardonnay, with 66% reserves from 2010 and 2009, disgorged in 2019."

Score

97

"The NV Champagne V.P. stands for Vieille Prolongée, because it is aged longer, seeing 7 years on the lees before disgorgement. A blend 70% Pinot and the rest Chardonnay, based on 2016 and with reserve wine from 2015 and 2014, they made this blend in 2017. Offering wonderfully pure aromas of cherry liqueur, eau de vie, fresh flowers, and crushed rocks, it's full-bodied on the palate and has broad shoulders but retains a very focused and well-defined feel, with outstanding concentration and purity, a fantastically long finish, and a remarkably youthful feel. It's beautiful now but has the potential for a lot of longevity and is going to be wonderful to check in on."

Score

94

"As usual, the latest disgorgement of Egly's NV Extra-Brut Grand Cru V.P., this year based on the 2015 vintage complemented by reserve wines from 2014 and 2013, is one of the highlights of the range. Wafting from the glass with aromas of pear, green apple, freshly baked bread, crushed mint, honeycomb, white flowers and praline, it's medium to full-bodied, fleshy and layered, with a racy and concentrated core, a pretty pinpoint mousse and a long, saline finish."