Jess

9.1

Pale salmon color.
Aromas of red berry fruit, toasted brioche, citrus.
Dry. Flavors of strawberry, bubblegum, lemon, toast.

Intensity: 4/5
Complexity: 3/5
Balance: 4/5
Finish: 4/5 — 7 months ago

Vanessa

9.2

We visited Champagne Ayala today, located in the grand cru village of Äy, Champagne. 🇫🇷

This champagne house is now part of the Bollinger family 🏠 ; it has a distinct and marked personality, leaning especially towards Chardonnay with a light, elegant, and focused character. 🌸

We had the pleasure of touring the grounds and cave with @carledmundsherman where we learned about the history of Ayala, the subsoils and topography where grapes used to make this wine were grown; we rode an elevator with crates of bottles that had been riddled, and we even caught a glimpse of wines being disgorged, dosaged, and corked in action. 🤩

It was a memorable, educational, and delicious experience. 💕Here is a lineup of wines we tasted - mostly blends of predominantly Chardonnay (with Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier) and a Blanc de Blancs (100% Chardonnay).

All of these wines were lovely, though our favorite was the Vintage 2012 La Perle — ‘The Pearl’ — prestige cuvée, due to its richness, aromatics, and complexity. 👏👏👏🍾🍾🍾

Santé!!🥂🥂🥂🥂 @champagne_ayala — 3 years ago

with Deked1

Arden Barnett

9.3

Open and ready for business. The Bollinger grand Annee is still my favorite 08 but this is not too far behind. — 4 years ago

Simon Heape

9.2

Adore this wine! Too many Crémants seem to be bottled a day or two after their 9 months minimum but this feels like it’s had longer. Gorgeous colour with hints of gold, beautifully pure and focussed, very dry (probably Extra Brut) with lemon, green apple, hazelnut and light pastry & Parmesan notes. There’s also a light oxidative bruised apple note that adds real character to the wine. A fantastic alternative to cheap Champagne, a very grown up fizz, in my mind if Bollinger made Crémant this would be it. If you’re looking to step up from Prosecco this is probably too austere for you but if you already appreciate Crémant or Champagne you should love this!" — 5 years ago

Shay A

9.3

In the name of science, a few champagnes/sparkling wines were sampled today in an effort to help a friend for comparative research reasons. Hard way to spend a Monday...

Total surprise and up there for my favorite of the day. I know nothing of this producer, so I’m not sure if my notes are due to it being vintage, but this was like a cross of the Vilmart & the Bollinger. It took the best traits of each and combined them...the ripe and sharp acidity green Apple and pear from the Vilmart with the toasted oak/sweet nougat & ginger from the Bollinger. Wonderful. Thanks @Jeff Meyer — 5 years ago

with Jeff, Weston and 1 other

Aaron Tan

9.4

Every champagne lover should get to know Fabrice Gass! His tiny estate in Damery, Alexandre Filaine, was a great discovery for me this year. Age-old story of minuscule production, biodynamic farming, and upholding tradition. This older bottling of his NV was stunning and perhaps one of the best I've had recently.

2012 base, with some 2011 blended in as reserve. 2/3 Pino, the rest Chard, and a touch of Meunier. No dosage, no malo, and fermented in old Bollinger barrels - Fabrice's keepsake from his last gig.

Elegant, with laser focus but impressive body. On the nose, super chalky, floral, green apples, pears, and brioche. The palate's incredibly vinous. A complexity that ebbs and flows, with a length that matches. Quite rich and showing some oddly fresh grassy tones. Citrus pith and really mineral on the back notes. What a joy to sip on! — 5 years ago

Gor

9.4

Great stuff — 7 months ago

Hillary Adler

9.2

Last bottle find and loved it. Super well rounded and delightful champagne. Nice and dry. Agree with another poster who compared it to Bollinger, but better. — a year ago

Adriana Fabbro

9.2

Wasn’t expecting to like English sparkling nearly as much as I’m enjoying this bottle. A truly bizarre combination of ripe fruit and racy acidity (higher than the average for champagne) that can only come from somewhere this far north > 50 degrees latitude (long growing season + long days during growing season). Lemon curd, green apple danish, even notes of pear and passion fruit. Bond may have to trade out his Bollinger for this. — 3 years ago

Logan Edwards

9.3

Refined with round, buttery mouthfeel. Earth tones. Reminds me of an older vintage Bollinger. — 4 years ago

with GaryWEdwards

Mark Flesher

9.5

Compared to a 2008 Bollinger Grand Annee, the complexity here and overall mouthfeel outdid the Bolly. I was wondering what everyone was crowding around in the back room, but quickly figured it out. Pours to a light pale straw hue. Nose of creme brulee and cashew. Entry with small bubbles. Very oxidative style and does not care what you think about that! Does not have high acid. I was getting peaches and pears, with a nice oxidative bready creaminess with a rather smooth and long tiny bubble finish. Wow. Doing WELL. — 5 years ago

with Dan, Shay and 1 other

Chris England

9.1

🎄 Advent Halfy Calendar Day 22 🎄

🎅 Santa says “Two more sleeps boys & girls 😊 I hope you’ve all been good! I have so I’m going to pop these bubbles 😉”

📝 I say this has aged quick in the baby bottle and very oxidative reminiscent of a Bollinger with 10 years age - a good new find 👍

⏩ 🍾 Mrs E got Ruinart Blanc de Blancs NV

📍 R&L Legras Grand Cru Blanc de Blancs Brut NV

🏵 91 points but would like to re-evaluate on a 75/150cl bottle vs 37.5cl

🍇 Chardonnay

🍷 Golden yellow straw

👃 Oxidative toasted brioche, smoke, fallen apples, honey & burnt citrus curd biscuit w/ a cream caramel & mineral undertone

👄 Med+ bodied rich ripe fine bubbled mousse of caramelised apple, honey, citrus biscuit, grapefruit & dry mineral

🎯 Med++ touch dry burnt caramel apple tarte tatin, citrus curd, grapefruit & mineral linger — 5 years ago

GHol

9.3

19th eme, Krug ID 114016 This stuff is just so classy. Built around a great frame and then buckets of intriguing,yet not overwhelming fruit flavors. It stands head and shoulders above nearly all other roses,(apart from perhaps bollinger LGA?). This is just lovely but a tad expensive. — 6 years ago

Andrew Cullimore

9.5

Quite light straw colour , very fine persistent mousse . Quite discreet on the nose at first , then camomile , white flowers then deeper yellow fruits, brioche and citrus peel . More yellow fruits on palate , citrus peel. Dense , broad shouldered and mouth filling are all adjectives that come to mind but all balanced by good acidity, tension, plus lots of backbone . More mineral with slightly toasty brioche touches on the finish, good length , though not as long as the Bollinger Grande Année 2014 had last week. Really young , needs time but shows it’s quality . Better in 7- 10 years , I would imagine , will plateau for a further 10 at least — a year ago

David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.0

Thought I’d finally try this Bollinger created cuvée.

Nice, light, lively citrus & spring flowers. Very nice for its Costco price point. — 3 years ago

Ming L

9.3

Opulent and complex. Green apple, peach, a bit pipe apple, brioche, fresh bread dough, chalk, sea shells, and hint of toasted nuts. Savory and crisp at the same time. Splendid acidity. Super energetic mousse, though lacking a bit refinement.
Base wine is 2011, disgorged 2018. This and the Bollinger Special Cuvée are two of my favorite NV Champaign from larger houses. With 40% reserved wine averaged 10 year old, the CH Brut Reserve no doubt is a better value. — 4 years ago

James Webb

9.2

A curious nose of raspberries, pear, and mango. With some brioche. Interesting and different! Good acid on the attack with tart pear. Tannic mid but not overly so. Finish fades slowly mirroring palette with nothing off. Lovely Rose, though sadly I do not see sufficient complexity for $90. — 5 years ago

Gabriele Rotti

9.0

Nice smell, looks like a Bollinger. A bit aged , better a couple of years ago.
However great product! — 5 years ago

Danny Owens

9.2

Toasty, caramel notes great version of this type of champagne like Bollinger Grande Anne — 5 years ago

James Forsyth

9.1

Served at my sister's wedding, this grower Champagne is a little like Bollinger in profile. It is bready, with green apples and more tension compared to that big name house's house style. A delicious way with which to kick off celebrations a few weeks back. — 6 years ago