Fairy Jaehyung & BTS J-Hope — Champagne Egly-Ouriet Brut Grand Cru
I often enjoy watching the YouTube channel Fairy’s Table (요정식탁), where Fairy Jaehyung(Jung Jaehyung) showcases his exquisite culinary skills and tableware selections. Last month, the guest was none other than BTS’s J-Hope. As many already know, Jaehyung spent his student years in Paris, and Parisian culture seems deeply ingrained in his lifestyle. His love for French gastronomy is evident in the dishes he prepares for his guests.
At Fairy’s Table, wine is an essential part of the experience, rarely missing from the setting. True to his Parisian sensibilities, Jaehyung mostly serves wine, with champagne making particularly frequent appearances. It seems he personally selects the bottles. For a while, Dom Pérignon and Krug were his go-to choices, but during J-Hope’s visit, he introduced a new champagne: Egly-Ouriet Brut Grand Cru. Jaehyung explained to J-Hope that this champagne was his current favorite and advised that it’s a must-buy when visiting Paris, as it’s quite rare in Korea.
Interestingly, J-Hope initially mentioned Henri Giraud and confessed that he’s not particularly fond of the pungent aroma typical of many champagnes. Slightly flustered, Jaehyung worried he might have chosen the wrong bottle. However, ever the gentleman, J-Hope reassured him that the Egly-Ouriet was clean and enjoyable. So, what exactly is this Egly-Ouriet Brut Grand Cru that Jaehyung served to BTS’s J-Hope?
Champagne Egly Ouriet Brut Grand Cru
Egly-Ouriet is a champagne house founded in the 1930s in Ambonnay, a Grand Cru village in the Champagne region. The estate owns about 21 hectares of vineyards, including Grand Cru plots in Ambonnay, Bouzy, and Verzenay, as well as some Premier Cru sites. Today, the winery is led by the fourth-generation vintner, Francis Egly. Since taking over from his father in the 1980s, Francis has devoted himself to elevating the already highly regarded quality of their Pinot Noir. Under his leadership, Egly-Ouriet began managing their vineyards organically, and today they practice organic or biodynamic viticulture.
During the winemaking process, grapes are gently pressed to preserve their integrity, and the wines are aged on the lees for extended periods to enhance complexity and structure. Most Egly-Ouriet champagnes are aged on lees for at least 48 months, with some cuvées aging for over 100 months.
The bottle that Jaehyung and J-Hope shared, the Egly-Ouriet Brut Grand Cru, is a non-vintage blend crafted from several vineyard sites. It features grapes from Grand Cru villages—Ambonnay, Bouzy, and Verzenay—comprising approximately 70% Pinot Noir and 30% Chardonnay. Fermentation occurs naturally using indigenous yeasts, and malolactic fermentation is intentionally avoided. Both fermentation and aging take place in barrels, with about 10% new oak used. As mentioned, Egly-Ouriet is known for their long lees aging; this particular cuvée spent 48 months maturing.
In Korea, you can find a selection of Egly-Ouriet champagnes, including the Brut Grand Cru. Once celebrated among sommeliers for their outstanding Pinot Meunier expressions, Egly-Ouriet now offers a diverse range of cuvées. If you’re a champagne lover, this is a house you definitely shouldn’t miss.
