NV Ayala Rose

The NV Champagne Rose Majeur is based around the 2020 harvest and is made of 52% Chardonnay, 38% Pinot Noir, and the rest Meunier and about 5% still red wine. (The intention is to preserve the freshness of the wine.) It pours a bright pink hue and is very pretty and expressive in the glass on opening, with notes of wild strawberries, crushed roses, wet stone, and grapefruit. Medium-bodied and approachable, it retains lovely freshness and has a delicate, rounded feel but is fresh and crunchy in its style. Its finish is clean and pure, a fresh note of white pepper and a hint of orange zest. It has a delicate pithy feel is quite nicely balanced at this stage. Drink over the coming 10-12 years.

A lacy and elegantly styled Rosé Champagne, the NV Champagne Majeur Rosé Brut is always a high proportion of Chardonnay, with it clocking in at 51% of the blend for this vintage, with 10% Meunier and the rest Pinot Noir (6% of which came from Aÿ). Based on the 2019 vintage, it saw the same reduction of dosage as the Majeur Brut, from 7 grams per liter to 6 grams per liter of dosage. On opening, it pours a pale pink-silver color and is fresh with aromas of white peach, fresh rose petals, and fresh strawberry. Medium-bodied on the palate, it offers a delicate mousse, fresh notes of orchard fruit, a delicate, chalky texture, and clean lift on the finish. This is a charming and refreshing style to drink 2023-2033. Founded in 1860, Ayala is based in Aÿ with the focus on Chardonnay. In November 2022, Julian Gout was promoted to cellar master after a four-year tenure as deputy cellarmaster, taking over for Caroline Latrive, who has moved over to Deutz. (She was previously at Champagne Bollinger, which purchased the house in 2005.) All the wines are vinified in small stainless steel tanks and go through malolactic fermentation, and they receive relatively low dosage levels ranging from zero to seven grams per liter. In 2018, they built an additional winery that increased their capacity by 3,300 hectoliters.

Full bottle 1,639 g. An assemblage of 24 crus, four vintages (2019, 2018, 2017 and 2016), and 51% Chardonnay, 39% Pinot Noir, 10% Meunier. 6% of the blend is red wine from grand cru vineyards. Dosage 6 g/l. Disgorged October 2022. I really like the detailed back label. Thank you, Ayala. Deep rosy-peach pink. An endearing nose that reminds me of strawberry jelly. Ripe Worcester Pearmain apple fruit with its distinct raspberry tang through the fleshy crunch of apple, an almond-wedding-favour sweetness but also a delicate almond-skin bitterness. Firm bead. Not as elegant as the Billecart-Salmon rosé tasted beside it, but just the wine for by the fire with a book, a bowl of spiced nuts to hand. (TC)