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Egly-Ouriet bottles Les Bussets, the maison’s first Blanc de Blancs: a pure Chardonnay from a single parcel in Verzy, planted in 1902.
Egly-Ouriet is one of the most respected vigneronne maisons in Ambonnay, in the Montagne de Reims—a name that those who follow Champagne closely almost always associate with Pinot Noir. With Les Bussets, the producer bottles a pure Blanc de Blancs for the first time, born from a single historic Chardonnay parcel: a rare event for a maison that has built its reputation on a different grape variety.
What is Les Bussets
Les Bussets is a Grand Cru Blanc de Blancs Champagne—meaning 100% Chardonnay—crafted by Egly-Ouriet. The name is taken from the lieu-dit where the grapes originate: a parcel in Verzy, one of the Grand Cru classified villages of the Montagne de Reims, with vines dating back to 1902. It is, for all intents and purposes, the first Blanc de Blancs in the history of Egly-Ouriet: this is how it is presented by the retailers distributing it, a maison long identified with Pinot Noir-based cuvées from the vineyards of Ambonnay, Bouzy, and Verzenay.
The first harvest used for this cuvée was 2018: the grapes were vinified entirely in barrel, with a spontaneous fermentation conducted using indigenous yeasts, and the wine spent approximately seven years on the lees before its first release in 2026 as an Extra Brut dosage. These coordinates are perfectly consistent with the maison’s style: wood vinification, long aging, and great attention to the expression of the individual parcel.
The Story Behind the Label
The Egly family has cultivated vines in Ambonnay since the 1940s, when the grapes were still destined for the cellars of the region’s large négociants. The turning point came with Francis Egly, the fourth generation at the helm of the estate: he ceased the sale of grapes, transitioned the company to full estate-bottling, and transformed it into one of the benchmark names for Champagne de vignerons—the “grower” Champagne produced and bottled entirely in-house. In the vineyard, work is characterized by low yields, mature harvests, and great attention to the quality of the raw material, while in the cellar, Egly favors long maturation and wood vinification.
Today, the domaine works approximately 12 hectares across the Grand Crus of Ambonnay, Bouzy, and Verzenay, and the Premier Cru of Vrigny, with a significant portion of old vines, such as the famous Les Crayères parcel. Les Bussets, in Verzy, tells a different story: Egly-Ouriet acquired this tiny parcel of old Chardonnay only relatively recently, despite the vines dating back to 1902. It is within this context—a cellar that has historically thrived on Pinot Noir—that the exception of Les Bussets emerges.
What to Observe in This Blanc de Blancs
The first element to consider is the history of the parcel: Egly-Ouriet acquired this tiny portion of Chardonnay planted in 1902 in Verzy and, with the first harvest vinified in 2018, reached the first Blanc de Blancs in its history in 2026. It is a long timeframe—from century-old vines to the first bottle—that demonstrates how long the maison waited before proposing an interpretation of this terroir different from the Pinot Noir with which it has always been identified. The second element is the method: full barrel vinification, without the use of selected yeasts, is a choice that requires control and time, not merely a technical detail for the label.
The third element is the sensory profile described by retailers who have already tasted the cuvée: notes of candied citrus, toasted hazelnut, and brioche, for a profile that combines aromatic maturity, autolytic notes, and a marked chalky imprint. For those who collect grower Champagne, Les Bussets represents a rare case: the first release in a register that the producer had never explored before, from a parcel that had been waiting for over a century to tell a story different from that of the Pinot Noir of Ambonnay.
How to Purchase Shares of Egly-Ouriet Les Bussets on Collecto
On Collecto, Les Bussets is purchased in shares: there is no need to buy the entire bottle to enter into co-ownership of this Grand Cru Champagne. The asset profile gathers the details of the cuvée—origin, vintage, production method—along with the purchase conditions, allowing you to evaluate your share with all the information at hand. Those not yet familiar with how the platform works can consult the guide on how Collecto works, while the full catalog of available assets can be accessed via the Collecto app.
While Les Bussets represents the exception for a maison accustomed to letting Pinot Noir speak, it remains a bottle to be judged parcel by parcel, vintage by vintage.
Discover Egly-Ouriet Les Bussets on Collecto
On Collecto, you can purchase shares of Egly-Ouriet Les Bussets starting from €50, a concrete way to own a portion of this Grand Cru Blanc de Blancs without having to purchase the entire bottle.
Frequently Asked Questions about Egly-Ouriet Les Bussets
What is Egly-Ouriet Les Bussets?
It is a Grand Cru Blanc de Blancs Champagne, 100% Chardonnay, produced by Egly-Ouriet from a single parcel in the lieu-dit Les Bussets in Verzy, planted in 1902.
Why is Les Bussets a novelty for Egly-Ouriet?
It is the first Blanc de Blancs in the maison’s history, which has always been identified with Pinot Noir-based cuvées: it originates from a single, tiny parcel of Chardonnay planted in 1902 in Verzy, acquired by Egly-Ouriet only relatively recently.
Which vintage does this cuvée come from?
From the 2018 harvest, with approximately seven years of aging on the lees before its first release in 2026 as an Extra Brut dosage.
How are the Les Bussets grapes vinified?
Entirely in barrel, with spontaneous fermentation conducted with indigenous yeasts, without the use of selected yeasts.
How do I purchase a share of Egly-Ouriet Les Bussets on Collecto?
From the asset profile on Collecto, where the purchase conditions for the share are indicated; the guide on how the platform works is available on the Collecto website.
