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 — 4 years ago

with Deked1

Isaac Pirolo

9.3

This bottle rode out to California with me a few years back and then flew back with me on Friday. The 2006 Todos from Jonata is a blend of 39% Syrah, 35% Cabernet Sauvignon, 11% Sangiovese, and the rest Petit Verdot, Cabernet Franc, and Viognier. It’s an ideal match for Texas BBQ with its rich fruit, but bone dry finish, and a mix of herbs and spices in between. — 8 years ago

Henri Eliot

9.0

Great find today in Vancouver a 2003! — 8 years ago

Ivar M

9.2

Deze rode Navarro is mooi droog en niet straf. Weelderig in de mond en erg lekker met eend. — 9 years ago

Ivar M

9.4

Deze organische rode port is van een ander kaliber. De geur is bijzonder, intens en fruitig, maar aardser en spannender. De smaak is rijk, vol vruchten en zoete stroperigheid. En een lange, zwoele afdronk. Dit is absoluut een succes, met of zonder kaasplank! — 9 years ago

David Koenen

9.1

Sinaasappelschil, bloesem, karamel, zeepachtig, nootjes, heel viognier-achtig, en dat is bizar, want het is toch echt rode wijn. Heel bloemig en geparfumeerd en rijk. Wow. — 9 years ago

Peter van den Besselaar

9.2

Vintage 2013 | I am prejudiced. I love this Limoux. 85% Chardonnay, 15% Mauzac. Former notes apply. | Paired with rode poon from bbq (gurnard, rouget) with a tomato salad — 5 years ago

Arno van Boggelen

9.5

Dit is precies hoe een goede rode wijn moet smaken — 6 years ago

Roman Sukley

9.8

2006 Sine Qua Non "The Hoodoo Man" White Blend
39% Roussanne, 31% Viognier and 30% Chardonnay. 15.8% alcohol. “There ain’t a horse that can’t be rode, there ain’t a man that can’t be throw’d” Yet another of my Sine Qua Non guilty pleasures. Similar to the 2009 “The Thrill Of Stamp Collecting” and the 2011 “Patine,” this is one of those Sine Qua Non wines that I find to be a might more compelling than the expert reviews. I can’t quite put my finger on exactly why, but this one has always sort of tickled my fancy, and never fails to please. Ive always been rather fond of the perhaps Grant Wood, American Gothic inspired label. Now, some 12 years down the road, as with most of Manfred’s whites, the extra cellar time has just added nuance to this sexy effort. Lustrous, radiant gold in the stem, with a stunning bouquet of smoky, nutty peach cobbler with hints of white flowers lurking in the background. Tropical fruits and orange marmalade with a toasty, butterscotchy finish of substantial length. Absolutely wonderful acidity. Unctuous, oily texture that I treasure. Powerful and intense. Great balance. I like to taste great whites slightly warmer than cellar temperature, but I would say this one just got better and better with more air and as it warmed. Just beautiful. “Salud, chindon Mr. Krankl!”
— 7 years ago

Colin Rayye

9.0

OH LA LA great entrant at dirt cheap. nice punch. bunch of berry and stuff. finish questionable but still opening up — 8 years ago

Kete

9.5

beetje rode biet, kers gamay — 9 years ago

Ivar M

9.1

Erg lekkere, zachte rode wijn. Iets gekoeld geschonken, mooi bij hert en cranberry! — 9 years ago

with Marcel and Hanneke

David Koenen

9.0

Cassis, zwarte olijfjes, kiezelsteen, rode paprika, licht zwavelig. Toekomst. Blijft verrekte lastig om te raden, die Mencia. — 9 years ago

Remco

9.0

Fantastische rode wijn op eerste avond in Lissabon. — 6 years ago

Ivar M

9.4

Een heerlijke rode, sappige en fruitige wijn. Goed bij gegrild rund- en lamsvlees en zelfs chimichurri! — 7 years ago

Sarah Gagestein

9.3

Zwart rijp fruit in de neus met op de achtergrond wat potgrond. Fluweelzachte smaak van bramen en zoetzure rode bessen. Mooie zuren en best aanwezige tannines. Lange fruitige afdronk met een vleugje groene kruiden en kaneel. Lovely! — 7 years ago

with Robbert

Ned Gray Creed

9.5

That is pretty damn sensational. I have never rode up Mount Ventoux. But now I have at least drank the wines of the surrounding vineyards. Thanks for the taste famalie Brunier. — 8 years ago

Ivar M

9.1

Lekker zacht, vanille en kruiden in de neus. Soepele rode wijn geschikt voor de zomer. — 8 years ago

with Marcel and Hanneke

Ivar M

9.1

Copertino, onbekende druif met een heerlijk bossig en houtig aroma. Delicate smaak voor een rode wijn. — 9 years ago

wolho .

9.0

Stevige rode wijn. Volle geur, trapje hoger dan La Tota - Barbera D'Asti en duidelijk op vat gelegen. Kruidige tint en geconcentreerde smaak (Superiore) maar niet kras zoals de Toscaanse rode wijnen. Zacht gevoel in de mond. — 9 years ago