Champagne Ayala - Brut Majeur
Champagne
Effervescent
Sold individually
Drink or Keep
94/100
James Suckling
-
90/100
Decanter
-
16/20
Jancis Robinson
"A unique blend of Ayala's finest vintages and the perfect expression of authentic savoir-faire".
This cuvée reveals elegant complexity, with an open, expressive nose of citrus fruit and white flowers, and a balanced palate combining freshness and vinosity. Excellent as an aperitif, it will harmoniously accompany every moment of your festive meals.
Features
Estate
Champagne Ayala
Cuvée
Brut Majeur
Designation
Champagne
Region
Champagne
Grape varieties
55% Chardonnay, 30% Pinot Noir, 15% Pinot Meunier
Terroirs
Limestone
Viticulture
Traditional and meticulous
Harvest
Manual
Winemaking
Traditional Champagne method, micro-vinification in 120 small stainless steel vats
Breeding
3 years on lees
Alcohol content
12%
Residual sugars
6 g/l
Tasting & pairing
Eye
Light golden colour, abundant fine bubbles
Nose
Open, expressive and delicate, with notes of citrus, flowers and white-fleshed fruit.
Mouth
Balanced, combining freshness and vinosity, precise, fruity with good length, mineral notes
Serve
AT 10°C
Drink before
2027
Food and wine pairing
Champagne A perfect aperitif, it can also be enjoyed with white fish, shellfish, poultry, a cheese platter...
Champagne Ayala
Champagne
Expert opinion
Bettane & Desseauve
Domain rated 4*Stars (Top-quality producers, the glories of French winegrowing)
About the domain :
Born in Aÿ in 1860, this house was taken over by its neighbor Bollinger in 2005. A powerful ally, it has access to choice supplies - particularly Pinot Noir - from some one hundred hectares, with over 90% of its crus classified on the crus scale. The fundamentals of the house - excellence, purity, uprightness - have been reaffirmed. These are champagnes for aesthetes, focused on low dosage, with the date of disgorgement on each bottle. Confirmation of the brilliant form of the house, which is certainly entering the ranks of the greats at Champagne, but with prices that remain very affordable, particularly for the excellent brut-majeur.
Decanter
Wine rated (2023 guide) 90/100
About the wine:
Ayala's Brut Majeur has been reinvented with the 2019 base, which now contains more Chardonnay than any other NV from the big houses. The style is delicate and lively, with notes of yellow apple, lime and sweet pear, subtly supported by a touch of creaminess. Careful and precise, it represents excellent value for money. 55% Chardonnay, 30% Pinot Noir, 15% Meunier. Based on 2019 with 43% reserve wines from 2018, 2017 and 2016.
Guide Hachette des vins
Domain Rated Award-winning wines (Wines from this producer regularly win awards in the guide)
About the domain :
Established in Aÿ, Maison Ayala was born in 1860 from the meeting of Raphaël-Edmond-Louis Gonzague de Ayala, son of a Colombian diplomat, and Berthe-Gabrielle d'Albrecht, niece of Viscount de Mareuil. Owned since 2005 by Champagne Bollinger, its cellar master is Caroline Latrive.
RVF - La Revue du Vin de France / Guide des Meilleurs Vins de France
Domaine rated (2024 guide) 1*Star (Stars in the making or quality winegrowers with a good level of production, you won't be disappointed when you taste the wines from these estates)
About the domain :
This venerable Aÿ brand, created in 1860, has belonged to neighboring Bollinger since February 2005. The brand, run by Hadrien Mouflard and his team, including cellar master oenologist Caroline Latrive, is relaunching itself around a fresher style of champagne, available in low dosage (6 grams/liter) and non-dosé, with malolactic fermentations smoothing out the edges. Today, Ayala has clearly found its style, which is very different from that of its parent company, which is windier and more markedly Pinot Noir.
Wine Enthusiast
Domain rated Recommended (Wine producer recommended by Wine Enthusiast)
Jancis Robinson
Wine rated (guide 2023) 16/ 20
About the wine:
Much more character and value than the similarly priced Heidsieck Monopole! This wine tastes of love and ambition, and could be one of the best NV champagnes on the market.
James Suckling
Wine rated (2024 guide) 94/100
Customer reviews
Customer rating
3.9/5
on 47 reviews
Note and review by M. BRUNO R. Published on 16/02/2020
Very disappointed because the corks of two. Bottles were dry...in T...the taste was altered... Not very normal... There were certainly two different batches.
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Note and review by M. PATRICK J. Published on 01/03/2019
A little disappointed, the bubbles are pleasant but the wine is rather bland and characterless.
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Note and review by M. VINCENT C. Published on 26/02/2019
Tension, tension, tension...
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Note and review by M. PIERRE ALEXANDRE A. Published on 24/02/2018
A really good champagne
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Note and review by Mme CORINNE L. Published on 28/10/2024
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Note and review by Mme GENEVIEVE H. Published on 27/10/2024
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Note and review by M. JORDI P. Published on 21/05/2024
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Note and review by M. OLIVIER B. Published on 16/02/2024
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Note and review by M. GIUSEPPE P. Published on 14/02/2024
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Note and review by M. PHILIPPE M. Published on 07/02/2024
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