Vintages: 2019 (50%), 2018 (30%), 2017 (30%)
Bottling: 2020
Disgorgement: July 2024
Time on lees: 48 months
Debuting in 2022, this is the third release of Egly’s sole Chardonnay-dominant cuvée, and it’s the second release to include three vintages. The wine is drawn from a plot on the south-facing slopes of Bisseuil, a village just east of the famous communes of Aÿ and Mareuil-sur-Aÿ. While these two latter villages are renowned for Pinot Noir, Bisseuil is more known for Chardonnay; it’s the only village in the area with more Chardonnay than Pinot Noir. The blend here is 70% Chardonnay with 15% Pinot Noir and 15% Meunier. The Egly Bisseuil vines cover 1.5 hectares and span two lieux-dits. The Egly family have now farmed them for more than seven years—Francis and Annick Egly purchased these vines in anticipation of their children Clémence and Charles joining the domaine. The average vine age is 40 years. Les Vignes de Bisseuil was vinified in barrel and spent four years in the cellar before disgorgement with 2 g/L dosage.
As always, this makes for a fascinating contrast to the rest of the range—the Egly approach applied to Chardonnay. Expect waves of orchard fruit, white flowers, fresh butter and almond oil notes. Yes, there is richness and texture, but the wine is also bright and full of energy with a powdery, pithy close. It has all the vinosity, complexity and tension for which this great grower is renowned.