Whom You Know Celebrates Our 200th Post in Champagne Wishes with Ayala!
Pure bred.
Pure flavor.
Pure origins.
Born in 1860 in the town
of Ay, the heart of
Champagne in France,
Ayala is a pure
champagne with a
noble history, a favorite
champagne of Kings.
Share the wealth.
Celebrate Our 200th Post in Champagne Wishes with Peachy Deegan and Ayala!
Brut Majeur is the result of the blending of a particular harvest with quality reserve wines. Aÿ being the capital of Pinot Noir, this noble grape is always dominant thus ensuring the vinosity, the fullness and the intensity of the wine. We loved every sip and this Champagne boasts true quality from the first to the last drop.
Chardonnay gives elegance, liveliness and finesse, and Pinot Meunier adds a delicate fresh and fruity note. The cellar master is an artist, and every new cuvee he creates is a work of art, the result of very rigorous selections among innumerable possibilities.
His art consists in recreating every year a great wine which is true to the style of the House, with the subtle balance between roundness, elegance and vivacity. The low dosage, 9 grams per litre, reveals the delicate nuances of the aromas and the bouquet.
Brut Majeur is ideal served as an aperitif, however its vinosity and its personality make it also a wonderful accompaniment throughout a meal.
Brut Majeur is Highly Recommended by Whom You Know.
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Grape varieties
Pinot Noir (45%), Chardonnay (30%) and Pinot Meunier (25%).
The origin of the crus gives a good idea of the quality of the wines by their restrictive
selection:
selection:
- Pinot Noir: Aÿ, Mareuil-sur-Aÿ, Louvois, Bouzy, Tours-sur-Marne, Verzy, Rilly.
- Chardonnay : Cramant, Mesnil-sur-Oger, Cuis, Vertus & Rilly.
- Pinot Meunier : Venteuil, Cerseuil, St Martin d’Ablois, Chavot.
The Ayala-blend has an extremely high average rating of 93% on the “échelle des crus” scale.
80% of this cuvée is made out of the 2004 vintage; the remaining 20% are reserve wines (Pinot
Noir and Chardonnay).
80% of this cuvée is made out of the 2004 vintage; the remaining 20% are reserve wines (Pinot
Noir and Chardonnay).
***
Tasting notes
Pale gold in color with a fine mousse, the wine is aromatic on the nose. On the palate, it is well
balanced and shows great finesse and complexity.
balanced and shows great finesse 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, mainly from the Marne Valley, gives the wine an appealing fruitiness and roundness.
Ageing
More than 2,5 years on the lees
Rests in the cellars for at least another 3 months after disgorgement
Rests in the cellars for at least another 3 months after disgorgement
Technical characteristics
- Alcohol 12,5% vol
- Acidity 4,6 g/l
- PH 2,96
- Dosage (g/l) 8,5 g/l
Pairing with food
Delicious as an aperitif, Brut Majeur is also the perfect wine to serve throughout a meal. It will pair perfectly with sea food, scallops, lobster, crab, fresh or grilled fish, fish terrines, salmon
or beef carpaccio.
or beef carpaccio.
Brut Majeur also goes along extremely well with white meats, hot pot (“potée champenoise”)
and white pudding (“boudin blanc”).
and white pudding (“boudin blanc”).
Cheeses : Soft and mouldy cheeses such as Boursault, Coulommiers, Chaource, Brie, Brillat-Savarin...
Desserts : Major parings include crumble with red berries or figs, fruit-based desserts (apple, pear or peach tarts), almond paste, frangipane pastries such as the French “Galette des Rois”.
Conservation
2 to 3 years
Our Mover and Shaker Kim Donaldson of Bottlenotes says of Ayala: "Ayala Brut Majeur is a great value for a top-of-the line, classic Champagne. It is crisp and delicious, with good body.”
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The history!!!
We love history at Whom You Know...
In 1750, Don Antonio de Ayala y Vergara, a Spanish aristocrat, was appointed Chancelor (Finance Minister) of New Grenada (now Colombia) by King Ferdinand VI of Spain. His son signs peace with Simon Bolivar. His grandson comes to France as the Consul of Colombia.
Then comes Edmond de Ayala (1831-1902), who is invited to Champagne by the Viscount of Mareuil to learn the business. He falls in love with the Viscount's niece, the beautiful Miss Gabrielle d'Albrecht.
As the dowry for their wedding in 1860, he receives the magnificent Château of Aÿ as well as some very prime vineyards located in Aÿ and Mareuil sur Aÿ.
This love story is also the beginning of a prestigious champagne house : Ayaladevelops rapidly in Great Britain thanks to Edmond's brother who was based in London.
In 1882, Ayala was one of the 18 founder members of the Syndicate of the Grandes Marques. Before the 2nd world war, Ayala was the supplier for the courts of Great Britain and Spain.
In 2005, Ayala is purchased by Société Jacques Bollinger, still owned by the Bollinger family.
