8 Champagnes from AYALA…
With the much awaited pre-release fourth cuvée in the “Collection AYALA” N°16 and the pre-release A18 Blanc de Blancs 2018
Hosted by AYALA Export Sales Director
Laurence Alamanos
Masterclass: 5:30-7pm, 8 Wines with nibbles, $125
Dinner: 7:30pm, 8 wines & 4 Courses, $210
Monday August 19th
The Blanc de Blancs Collection Persepctive
The Champagne Brut “Le Blanc de Blancs” from the famous Maison Ayala represents the iconic label of a style of elegant finesse , which finds perfect expression in an extraordinary pure Chardonnay. It is a Millesimato made only in a limited number of bottles and in the best years, to enhance the character of the grapes of the prestigious Grand Crus of the Côte des Blancs. Champagne of exceptional purity, fresh and mineral, with characteristic chalky nuances of the terroir, it is ideal to taste with seafood first courses, baked fish or delicate white meats.
“Le Blanc de Blancs” is a Brut Champagne produced by the famous Maison Ayala. It is a symbolic cuvée of the prestigious range of Ayala labels, created by the Chef de Cave Caroline Latrive to highlight the extraordinary qualities of the best Chardonnays of the domaine. The grapes come only from the Grand Cru plots of the Côte des Blancs of: Chouilly, Cramant, Mesnil-sur-Oger, Cuis, Grauves. At the end of the manual harvest, riper and healthier bunches are vinified separately for each individual parcel, with a soft pressing, followed by vinification of the free-run must in steel. After a few months, the vins clairs are assembled to create the definitive cuvée. The second fermentation takes place in the bottle according to the Champenoise Method, with a rest period on the yeasts of six years before proceeding with the dégorgement.
Ayala's Millesimato Brut “Le Blanc de Blancs” is a prestigious Champagne, a special bottle, created to enhance the excellent quality of the grapes and the extraordinary character of the vintage. In the glass it presents a brilliant and intense golden yellow, with a very persistent perlage, which rises delicately and subtly. The bouquet expresses all the finesse of a great Chardonnay , with aromas of white flowers, orange blossom, lemon peel, cedar, grapefruit, aromas of white pulp fruits, Williams pear, peach, enveloping sensations of small pastries, a nuance of fruit dry and iodized memories. On the palate it is clear and lively, with an agile and flowing sip, which accompanies towards a finish of vibrant mineral freshness.
callmewine.com
Let’s take a look at the two new releases…
The AYALA A/18 and Collection N°16
A/18 first edition of AYALA Le Blanc de Blancs
This first vintage edition of A/18 blends 6 comple- mentary crus selected from the 22 that came into our winery during the 2018 harvest : Chouilly, Cramant, Le Mesnil-sur-Oger, Oger, Bisseuil and Cuis.
Over six years ageing in the cellar brings some of the aromatic complexity and creamy texture that AYALA Le Blanc de Blancs is known for. The Extra-Brut dosage, a t 5g/l, makes this a champagne of outstanding purity and freshness.
AYALA Official
The 2018 viticultural year
A rainy winter and a mild spring were followed by a dry, sunny summer, heralding optimal conditions for an early harvest. This meant that grapes were plentiful and in near-perfect condition, particularly the Chardonnays. Despite a warm year, the region’s finest Terroirs showed themselves at their very best, thanks to the cool clay sub-soils in the Champagne region.
AYALA Official
Words from AYALA’s Cellar Master
“Bright, with fine, dynamic bubbles. On the nose, AYALA Le Blanc de Blancs A/18 reveals elegant aromas of pear, grapefruit and jasmine, followed by honeyed tones. On the palate, the wine is forthright and open with notes of blood orange and pastry. An extremely vivacious wine with beautiful bitter notes and the chalky minerality that is so characteristic of Maison AYALA’s signature cuvée.”
Julian Gout, Cellar Master at Maison AYALA
AYALA introduces A/18…A unique expression of its Blanc de Blancs.
“This new 100% Chardonnay blend from the Grands and Premiers Crus captures the purity of chalk from both the Côte des Blancs and the Montagne de Reims, from the 2018 vintage.”
Collection N°16 - “a union of crus and grape varieties”
N°16 is the fourth opus in the Collection AYALA.
N°16 is an outstanding Blanc de Blancs made entirely from Grands and Premiers crus from the Côte des Blancs and the Montagne de Reims. It is a limited edition cuvée which honours Champagne’s various white varietals through a blend of Chardonnay and the region’s forgotten grape varieties: Arbane, Petit Meslier and Pinot Blanc.
2016 viticultural year
2016 was a year of extreme weather in the Champagne region. After a sunny autumn and a mild winter, the spring was cool and extremely wet. The scorching temperatures in the summer enabled the grapes to attain a nice balance and full maturity resulting in a magnificent harvest.
Words from AYALA’s Cellar Master
“To the eye, a bright wine with silvery hues. AYALA N°16 unveils a complex nose and an expression of multiple fruit facets: mirabelle plum, candied lemon peel and white grapefruit. Notes of white flowers, honey acacia and fresh hazelnut will complete this subtle nose. The tasting is followed by a precise and acidulated attack with notes of apricot, yuzu and eucalyptus. A silky, elegant mouth with great freshness. This chiselled wine offers a great complexity and a lenghty, saline finish.”
Julian Gout, Cellar Master at Maison AYALA
The Menu & Wine List
1st Course
Ayala Brut Majeur NV, Our Price $89
&
Ayala Brut Majeur NV (Magnum), Our Price $238
Very clean and bright with transparency of sliced lemon, pear and chalk. Medium to full body with a very creamy texture and a bright, vivid finish. Comes off dry. Three years on the lees. 55% chardonnay, 30% pinot noir and 15% pinot meunier. A blend of 2016-2019. 6 g/l dosage. 92 Points James Suckling
Salmon tartare, cauliflower cream
2nd Course
Ayala A18 Blanc de Blancs 2018, (Pre release) Our Price $164
Bright, with fine, dynamic bubbles. On the nose, AYALA Le Blanc de Blancs A/18 reveals elegant aromas of pear, grapefruit and jasmine, followed by honeyed tones. On the palate, the wine is forthright and open with notes of blood orange and pastry. An extremely vivacious wine with beautiful bitter notes and the chalky minerality that is so characteristic of Maison AYALA’s signature cuvée.
Julian Gout, Cellar Master at Maison AYALA
Ayala Blanc de Blancs 2016, Our Price $156
Delicate, fresh and romantic bouquet of lemon, jasmine, spring flowers and orchard fruits. Very sappy and round, the palate is perfectly balanced and has both a pinpoint mousse and a crystalline texture. Although quite approachable today, it will come into its own when it picks up more complexity and texture with another year or two on the cork. 100% Chardonnay. Dosage of 6 g/L.
93 Points Yohan Castaing, Decanter
Ayala Blanc de Blancs 2015 (Magnum), Our Price $378
A subtle nose reveals hints of cool chalk, dried corn husk and a slight edge of lemon zest. The palate shows the fine freshness and brightness you expect from a Blanc de Blancs but couches it in a gentle, soft and elegant body that shows its yeasty autolysis with lovely notes of springy, pillowy pide bread that lifts off into a soaring note of pure Amalfi lemon. This combines sunny ripeness with cool poise. Lovely.
94 points, Anne Krebiehl MW, Falstaff.com
Beetroot tart, goats curd, petit greens
3rd Course
Ayala Rosé Majeur NV, Our Price $117
A very pretty rosé with dried-strawberry and apple aromas and flavors. Some spiced-pear and iron undertones. Cranberries, too. Full-bodied with precision and tightness. Focused and solid. Fine bubbles and length. Always an excellent rosé. 51% chardonnay, 39% pinot noir and 10% pinot meunier. 6 g/l dosage. Drink now.
93 Points James Suckling
Prawn croquettes, charred spring onion salsa
4th Course
Ayala Collection N°16 Blanc de Blancs 2016, (Pre release) Our Price $242
Pure mature Chardonnay gives this Champagne richness and a full texture. It is impressive, its crisp character contrasting well with hints of toast and ripe white fruits.
95 Points Roger Voss, Wine Enthusiast
Ayala Collection N°7 Brut 2007, Our Price $185
96 Point &s Tyson Stelzer’s Top 12 Champagnes of 2020
A new cuvée for Ayala that was disgorged in July 2019, the 2007 Brut No. 7 derives from fruit sourced in seven grands crus—Chouilly, Oger, Cramant, Le Mesnil-sur-Oger, Avize, Aÿ and Verzy—and saw tirage under cork. Offering up aromas of lemon oil, dried white flowers, walnuts and fresh bread, it's full-bodied, vinous and incisive, with a pillowy mousse, racy acids and a long, mineral finish.
94 points, William Kelley, The Wine Advocate
Pancetta wrapped chicken, pea pesto
To Finish…
Salted caramel afagatto
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