Ayala Champagne Brut Majeur
NV
Ayala Champagne Brut Majeur (NV)
- Winery:
- Ayala More from this winery Are we missing a vintage?
- Region:
- France » Champagne
- Varietal:
- Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Pinot Meunier
- Type:
- Sparkling Wine
- Color:
- White
41,665 cases made produced.
Closure: Cork
Aged 30 months in lees.
Aged 3 months in bottles.
Notes: 30 months ageing on the lees.
Chemical Analysis:
| Alcohol: 12% | pH: 2.96 |
| Sugar: 8.5 grams per liter | Total Acidity: 4.6 grams per liter |
Winemakers Notes
AGEING
More than 2.5 years on the lees. After disgorgement, the Brut Majeur rests in the cellars for at least another 3 months.
Vintage Notes
The AYALA-blend has an extremely high average rating of 93% on the “échelle des crus” scale. 80% of this cuvée is made from the 2004 vintage; the remaining 20% are reserve wines (Pinot Noir and Chardonnay).
Vineyard Notes
Pinot Noir 45%, Chardonnay 35% and Pinot Meunier 20%. The origin of the crus’ excellent quality is a credit to its restrictive selection from the beginning. A blend of Pinot Noir from Aÿ, Mareuil-sur-Aÿ, Louvois, Bouzy, Tours-sur-Marne, Verzy, Rilly. Chardonnay from Cramant, Mesnil-sur-Oger, Cuis, Vertus & Rilly. Pinot Meunier from Venteuil, Cerseuil, St Martin d’Ablois, Chavot.
Tasting Notes
Pale gold in color with a fine mousse, the Brut Majeur is aromatic on the nose. On the palate, it is well balanced and shows great style and complexity. Pinot Noir gives the wine richness and a long finish while Chardonnay, from the finest soils of the Côte des Blancs, adds delicacy, liveliness and freshness. Pinot Meunier, predominantly from the Marne Valley, gives the wine its appealing fruitiness and roundness.
Serving Suggestions
CONSERVATION 2 to 3 years
Food Pairing Suggestions
FOOD PAIRING Delicious as an aperitif, Brut Majeur is also the perfect wine to serve throughout an entire meal. It pairs perfectly with seafood: terrines, scallops, lobster, crab and fish, especially salmon. Brut Majeur also goes extremely well with beef carpaccio, white meats, stews and white pudding (“boudin blanc”). Soft and mouldy cheeses such as Boursault, Coulommiers, Chaource, Brie and Brillat-Savarin are rich ccompaniments. Fruit based desserts such as crumbles and tarts pair well with Brut Majeur as do desserts with almond paste and frangipane pastries such as the French “Galette des Rois”.
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Reviews for NV Vintage
Such an amazing Champagne, clean taste, not to sweet, not to dry. Very elegant as well
Bone dry and highly acidic. This wine desperately needs to be drunk with food.
This is what those oysters-on-the half-shell are screaming for! Bright, zippy and cool, bare elegance. The nose is one of verve and delineated chalk, green pear and lemon pith. A bone-dry, clear-as-a bell mouth of grapefruit, green apple granita and lemon sorbet cleanse and titillate the mouth and the finish is the cleanest and most refreshing you will encounter.
Rating: 90 points - As reviewed by Stephen Tanzer on 12/01/2009. Light yellow with a strong bead. An expansive, highly perfumed bouquet displays lemon zest, orange and green apple, plus a subtle undertone of fresh bread. Gently sweet on entry, then nervy and taut in the middle palate, offering pure citrus flavors and a hint of succulent herbs. Nicely precise Champagne with strong finishing cut and spicy persistence. - Josh Raynolds, International Wine Cellar
91 Editors' choice - Wine Enthusiast
Rating: 91 points - As reviewed by the Wine Enthusiast on 12/01/11. Ayala has made something of a specialty of very dry Champagne, and this delicate and deliciously foodfriendly wine shows why. It is so well balanced, the bone dry citrus fl avors integrated into the nervy texture. It would be worth aging a few months. Cognac One, LLC . - R.V.
Rating: 91 points - As reviewed by Wine Enthusiast on 12/01/2007. Editor's Choice & Best Buy - A beautifully balanced non-vintage, in the lighter style that is Ayala’s hallmark. It is fresh, but shows a good amount of blend with older wines to give weight and complexity. The green fruit flavors are well balanced with secondary aromas of almonds, green berries and lively, but not dominant acidity. - R.V.
92 points - Ed McCarthy / Wine Review Online
"A beautifully balanced non-vintage, in the lighter style that is Ayala's hallmark. It is fresh, but shows a good amount of blend with older wines to give weight and complexity. The green fruit flavours are well balanced with secondary aromas of almonds, green berries and lively bu not dominant acidity...91" WE 12/07
As the House's flagship , it has to be regular and consistent from one year to the next.This champagne is a non-vintage and is a blend of 2/3 red grapes (pinot noir and pinot meunier) and 1/3 white grapes (chardonnay). It is given a minimum of two and a half years of aging. A blend of wines from 15 to 20 different villages, it is thus a strong wine, that is also quite elegant. It has a frank attack, with floral and fruity aromas, and a very supple texture on the palate.This champagne offers excellent value for money.
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