When Champagne master craftsman Francis Egly subjects a wine to ‘vieillissement prolongé’—meaning extended, or prolonged, aging—he doesn’t mess around. And while it is not the only showstopper in the star-studded Egly-Ouriet Champagne lineup, today’s wine, nicknamed “V.P.,” spent eight years (!) aging on its lees in bottle in Egly’s cold caves in Ambonnay.
 
The result is a Champagne of nearly unparalleled richness, savor, and aromatic complexity. In the glass it displays a deep, golden yellow core moving to slight green hues on the rim. The aromatics are intense, led by aromas of brioche, creamed yellow apples, red berries, lemon, honey and crushed stones. The palate is full-bodied with amazing flavor concentration of cream, white mushrooms, fresh bread, preserved lemon, and chalk. And while it is roughly a decade old, this is just the beginning—it will develop more complex aromas for many years to come, so don’t hesitate to lay some down.