Description
Although having a long history dating back to 1860, the Marques Champagne House Ayala has had little recognition in Australia. We are fortunate now that with a 2005 acquisition by their neighbour 'Bollinger' a more concerted effort is being made to bring the wines to a wider audience. We were fortunate enough to see the range recently and felt compelled to share the experience.
It is apparent that Bollinger have long admired the quality and ideals that the smaller Ayala represented for many years. The fact that they both share the practice of aging their wines under cork while on lees only clarified this. One of the first changes initiated was the lowering of dosage used across the range. The use of low dosage throughout was a highlight and exagerated the high quality fruit and some extended time on lees.
They introduced a 'Zero Dosage' version of the NV Brut Majeur with such great acclaim at Vinexpo 2005 that the wine has become a new signature for the house. This brave move of showing your house style naked,(it's like the confidence knowing you are sending a totally naked Elle McPherson at her best out on a catwalk and knowing she won't look to some like a naked Dame Edna with ugly bits sticking out where they don't belong) was rewarded in March 2006 when Steven Spurier of Decanter Magazine voted it 'Best Sparkling Wine'.
Ayala Brut Zero NV Pinot Noir (40%), Chardonnay (27%) and Pinot Meunier (33%) My experience in the past in Zero Dosage fizz has been with Chardonnay dominant blends so this wine really stood out. It had wonderful red berry notes mingled with citrus and flowery leesy hints. The palate was not as dominated by the red pinot notes, but balanced by citrus and chalky apple and some nougat hints. It is dry and has a lovely dry apple/chalky texture yet still has a length of all the above. Great wine. Andrew Lincoln
It is apparent that Bollinger have long admired the quality and ideals that the smaller Ayala represented for many years. The fact that they both share the practice of aging their wines under cork while on lees only clarified this. One of the first changes initiated was the lowering of dosage used across the range. The use of low dosage throughout was a highlight and exagerated the high quality fruit and some extended time on lees.
They introduced a 'Zero Dosage' version of the NV Brut Majeur with such great acclaim at Vinexpo 2005 that the wine has become a new signature for the house. This brave move of showing your house style naked,(it's like the confidence knowing you are sending a totally naked Elle McPherson at her best out on a catwalk and knowing she won't look to some like a naked Dame Edna with ugly bits sticking out where they don't belong) was rewarded in March 2006 when Steven Spurier of Decanter Magazine voted it 'Best Sparkling Wine'.
Ayala Brut Zero NV Pinot Noir (40%), Chardonnay (27%) and Pinot Meunier (33%) My experience in the past in Zero Dosage fizz has been with Chardonnay dominant blends so this wine really stood out. It had wonderful red berry notes mingled with citrus and flowery leesy hints. The palate was not as dominated by the red pinot notes, but balanced by citrus and chalky apple and some nougat hints. It is dry and has a lovely dry apple/chalky texture yet still has a length of all the above. Great wine. Andrew Lincoln