Ayala Brut Majeur NV

Grape Makeup:

55% Chardonnay, 30% Pinot Noir, 15% Meunier

Sweetness Level:

Extra Brut

Ageing on Lees:

3 years

Price:

$ (V)

Cellar:

Up to 5 years

Category:

Celebration

What

A historic house (founded in 1860) that flailed for several years before being purchased by Bollinger in 2005, which instigated seismic shifts in quality and sales.

Where

Aÿ, Vallée de la Marne; 20ha split between Aÿ and Dizy in the Grande Vallée, Chouilly and Oger in the Côte des Blancs and others in the Vallée de la Marne.  It has access to 100 hectares through their relationships with growers, some of which it shares with Bolly, which works because the latter is much more focused on pinot noir while Ayala is more of a chardonnay house.

Why

The Brut Majeur NV is a triumph of the chardonnay-driven style even though the cuvée is only slightly biased towards white grapes.  The new production facilities built in 2007 allow them to individually vinify 120 plots for very intricate blending.  The house was also one of the pioneers of the zero dosage style, and even this NV blend is at Extra Brut level (useful if you’re living the low-sugar life).

What Else

If you are looking for still less sugar and more maturity, look out for the Brut Nature style, where long ageing on lees has been used to compensate for the lack of sweetness.

Tasting Notes

Quite delicate aromatically, this begins with a warming yeasty miso quality with brightening finger lime and verbena.  Very clean and pure on the entry, this delivers the same clean white citrus fruit (lime, white grapefruit), which builds on the palate to an intense pitch on the back, where it meets medicinal, herbal notes of gentian root and ginseng.  Though structurally it doesn't gain a huge amount of breadth, the flavours blossom dramatically through the middle.  Acidity is mild and integrated and the finish is clean with a pleasant bitterness.

Try It With

Fresh dishes heavy on fragrant herbs (e.g. Thai or Vietnamese dishes as long as they're not too sweet).

When To Drink

Apéritif.

Perfect For

The friend who considers themselves a value investor.

TL/DR

Citrussy, elegant and fresh.

Supplier

Jebsen