Description
Ayala Le Blanc de Blancs 2018 750ml is a vintage Champagne from Ayala in Aÿ, France, made from 100% Chardonnay. Known as A/18, it is the first vintage edition of this signature cuvée, blending six complementary Grand Cru and Premier Cru sites chosen from the 22 Chardonnay crus that came into the winery for the 2018 harvest.
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The house recommends 10 degrees and a tulip glass, round with a narrow rim, to show the aromas. It works as an aperitif and also suits scallop carpaccio, citrus-dressed sea bass tartare or oysters, with simple food that does not get in the way.
- 2018 vintage Champagne, known as A/18
- 100% Chardonnay from six crus
- Extra Brut, 5 g/L dosage, 6 years of ageing
In the words of the house’s cellar master, it is bright with fine, dynamic bubbles, showing pear, grapefruit and jasmine on the nose, then honeyed tones. The palate is forthright and open, with blood orange and pastry notes, attractive bitterness and a chalky minerality.
Each of the six crus has a defined role. From the Côte des Blancs come four Grand Cru villages: Chouilly for freshness and fruit, Cramant for liveliness and breadth, Le Mesnil-sur-Oger for tension and Oger for chalky minerality. Premier Cru Cuis adds a silky texture, and Bisseuil, a Premier Cru on the Montagne de Reims, gives depth.
The plots are micro-vinified in small stainless steel vats, which keeps each site separate before blending. The wine then takes 6 years from harvest to release. The 2018 season began with a rainy winter and mild spring, followed by a dry, sunny summer and an early harvest, and the house says the grapes, particularly the Chardonnays, were plentiful and in very good condition. The dosage is 5 grams per litre, an Extra Brut level intended to express purity.
Chardonnay is the most featured grape in Ayala’s blends and the base of its house style, which is why Le Blanc de Blancs serves as its signature wine. Further editions are planned to explore other combinations of Chardonnay sites, each with its own story. Ayala was founded in 1860 by Edmond de Ayala and belongs to Champagne Bollinger.
A precise, chalky vintage Champagne for Chardonnay lovers, with enough interest to reward a careful tasting.
