Stone Fruit
Stone Fruit
Apricot
Nut
Nut
Almond
Herbs & Spices
Herbs & Spices
Spice
Ambonnay
Ambonnay
What to expect
Ratafia de Champagne is an apéritif, made with the juice of freshly-picked Champagne grapes. The juice is fortified immediately after pressing (to prevent fermentation commencing) with a grape spirit distilled from Champagne. It belongs to the same family as Cognac's Pineau des Charentes.
As with all the wines produced by this great grower, this is not your average example of Ratafia. Apart from the renown of the vineyard work, Egly uses only 100% Grand Cru estate Pinot Noir fruit to make this! The fruit is also sorted and pressed gently and the finest of grape spirit is then immediately added. When you consider that most Ratafia comes from a Champagne producer's weakest fruit, you can begin to understand that we are not talking about a standard example of Ratafia.
As we have come to expect, this perfectionist grower refuses to aim for anything less than greatness and that is what we get here. It comes from a particular harvest, in this case 2011, and after two years mellowing in barrel, it is a stunningly pure and intense expression of this rare style that can be drunk on its own, over ice, with soda or used to make a wonderful Kir. It also stays fresh in the fridge for months. Bottled in 2014.
Stone Fruit
Stone Fruit
Apricot
Nut
Nut
Almond
Herbs & Spices
Herbs & Spices
Spice
What to expect
Ratafia de Champagne is an apéritif, made with the juice of freshly-picked Champagne grapes. The juice is fortified immediately after pressing (to prevent fermentation commencing) with a grape spirit distilled from Champagne. It belongs to the same family as Cognac's Pineau des Charentes.
As with all the wines produced by this great grower, this is not your average example of Ratafia. Apart from the renown of the vineyard work, Egly uses only 100% Grand Cru estate Pinot Noir fruit to make this! The fruit is also sorted and pressed gently and the finest of grape spirit is then immediately added. When you consider that most Ratafia comes from a Champagne producer's weakest fruit, you can begin to understand that we are not talking about a standard example of Ratafia.
As we have come to expect, this perfectionist grower refuses to aim for anything less than greatness and that is what we get here. It comes from a particular harvest, in this case 2011, and after two years mellowing in barrel, it is a stunningly pure and intense expression of this rare style that can be drunk on its own, over ice, with soda or used to make a wonderful Kir. It also stays fresh in the fridge for months. Bottled in 2014.
About the house
About the house
Food Suggestion
There are few growers in champagne with the attention to detail and unashamed passion for producing wines of distinction. Egly-Ouriet (pronounced Egg-lee Ou-ri-yay) is based in the grand cru village of Ambonnay, famed for its pinot noir fruit. It is run by the skillful, Francis Egly who practices biodynamic and organic principals in his vineyards which span, Bouzy and Verzenay. Francis makes up a handful of highly talented and terroir-driven producers along with the likes of Anselme Selosse, Larmandier-Bernier and Vouette et Sorbée. These are wines first and he produces deep, powerful and intense styles of champagne. His minimum ageing is around 48-60 months (as declared on his informative back label) for his non-vintage wines, allowing time to express the inner strength and purity. If you’ve never heard of Egly-Ouriet before, you are in for a treat. “Few producers can equal Francis Egly in skill and experience, and larger houses cannot hope to emulate the cultivation norms…” Michel Bettane, The World's Greatest Wines.
Food Suggestion
Excellent quality chocolate, the ones with gooey ganache, praline and coffee. If you're not into chocolate (you maniac) then try a cheeseboard filled with soft brie, aged gouda and perhaps a little blue?