First taste: Champagne Ayala’s 2022 releases

Champagne Ayala is always a very good source of value in Champagne. As Bollinger’s sister company, it produces fresh, fruity Champagne, perfectly balanced and equally at home as an aperitif or on the table, and in a style that is both elegant and precise.

Scroll down to see tasting notes and scores for Champagne Ayala’s 2022 releases

This year, Caroline Latrive, chef de caves since 2012, decided to leave the house to join another famous house, Deutz. She has been replaced by Julian Gout, deputy cellar master at Ayala since 2018 who has previous experience working with Champagnes Henri Giraud, Jacques Selosse, and Taittinger.

Ayala is well known for its Blanc de Blancs, but this year it released the third opus of Collection Ayala, a unique Champagne line-up produced in small quantities and released only when they reach their peak.

This includes a rosé Champagne from the 2014 vintage elaborated with grapes sourced from five grands crus (Aÿ, Chouilly, Cravant, Le Mesnil-sur-Oger and Verzy), each in equal parts.

This vintage was marked by drosophila flies causing damage (sour rot) to Pinot Meunier and Pinot Noir grapes, yet still produced some very fine wines in many houses thanks to a warm, sunny and dry September.

The production is only 7,235 bottles and the cuvée is a blend of 60% Chardonnay and 40% Pinot Noir, with 5% of red wine from Aÿ and a dosage of 5.3g/L.

Alongside this limited cuvée, Ayala presents its new Blanc de Blancs vintage, 2016. This 100% Chardonnay is composed of grapes from three grands crus: Chouilly, Cramant and Oger, and is aged for six years on lees before receiving a dosage of 6g/L.

Yohan Castaing rates Champagne Ayala’s 2022 releases:

Related content

First taste: Gosset Celebris Blanc de Blancs 2012

First Taste: Champagne Leclerc Briant Abyss Rosé 2018 and Le Clos des Trois Clochers 2016

Charles Heidsieck masterclass at Decanter’s London Fine Wine Encounter 2022