Ayala : Brut Majeur

Issuing predominantly from the 2021 vintage and enriched with approximately 40% reserve wines dating back to 2016, the NV Brut Majeur—disgorged in October 2024 with a dosage of six grams per liter—unfurls from the glass with aromas evocative of crisp peach, orange zest and nashi pear with a subtle hint of thyme. On the palate, it is medium-bodied, chiseled and incisive, displaying a taut structure and vibrant core of fruit underpinned by bright acidity, with a youthfully frothy mousse and a saline finish. It reflects the spirit of the vintage with all its attributes.

A creamy, opulent style, offering honey, apple tart and grapefruit notes, with hints of roasted nut and coffee. This has the structure to stay persistent and fresh, with a crisp, chalky finish. Drink now. 41,665 cases made, 2,000 cases imported.

Ayala's recent moves to increase the Chardonnay content and freshness of its entry-level cuvée have worked a treat: it's now a very solid buy. Sunny yellow stone fruit and succulent clementine speak of zesty, bright Chardonnay, to which the gentle, flowing mousse is perfectly matched, subtly backed by some Pinot Noir structure and pale, crusty bread richness. An excellent find for fans of delicacy and finesse, this stands tall among the major maison non-vintages.

A layered wine with spicy, almost stony minerality. Salted lemons and oranges. Crisp on the palate with light to medium body and flavors of strawberries and restrained pastry. Chalky mineral aftertaste. Dosage 6 g/L. Disgorged November 2024. Drink or hold.

(the same blend as the Brut Nature, with 7 g/l dosage; disgorged in September, 2013; L1405A0B01): Light yellow. Lively, sharply focused lemon and green apple aromas pick up deeper melon and peach qualities with air. Spicy and precise on the palate, offering juicy citrus fruit and honeysuckle flavors and a touch of candied fig. Powerful yet lively, finishing with strong punch and building mineral and floral qualities. This suave Champagne has the heft to handle rich foods and the tension to work by itself.

Pale golden yellow with silver reflections and a fine, persistent mousse. Nuances of yellow and white stone fruit, some fine floral hints, citrus notes and a mineral touch. Medium bodied with the fine fruit sweetness of mango and greengage, with an integrated acid structure creating balance and persistence. (Disgorged 08/23, PM).

Light golden colour with a youthful foamy mousse. Youthful aromas of fresh grapes, apple, pear and citrus leading to a medium-bodied palate, a slight bitterness, grape and citrus zest with floral hints, youthful mousse and a fairly long finish.

The Ayala team is bringing more transparency to this blend in terms of information provided on the labels as well as to its style. Based on the 2019 vintage, this release saw an increase to 55% Chardonnay, with 30% Pinot Noir and the rest Meunier, while the dosage was also reduced to 6 grams per liter. Pouring a pale silver straw hue, the NV Champagne Majeur Brut is fresh with a delicate perfume of lime blossom, yeasty, fresh bread dough, and green pear. Medium-bodied and lean on the palate, it offers a spritely mousse in a straightforward and crisp style to enjoy over the next few years. It takes on more balance and finesse than I remember from this wine in the past. Each of the wines are fermented separately now, and it was disgorged in January of 2023.

Part of the Bollinger group, this nonvintage cuvée is sophisticated, with ripe fruit, acidity and tangy orange-zest flavors all in balance. A final fresh twist gives a great lift.