Ayala Perle d'Ayala 2002
A prestige cuvee has to be a masterpiece. The Cuvee Perle d'Ayala deserves its name as the House itself is a jewel in Champagne. Of course the grapes come exclusively from Grand Cru vineyards, and are harvested in a vintage year.
The cuvee is made with the base wine of the vintage Blanc de Blancs to which the cellar master adds 20 % of Grand Cru Pinot Noir.
What makes the Perle so unique is that it is aged in the cellars with a natural cork closure, which enables the wine to have an exchange with the air and to develop beautiful and complex aromas.
The disgorgement is done entirely by hand, which is the way it used to be done in the past.
As clear as crystal, its colour is pale golden yellow and displays a very light amber glint. Great finesse of the bubbles. The nose offers a lovely bouquet of ripe citrus fruit and ginger bread.
On the palate the wine is very nicely structured and generous, and some very subtle notes of vanilla and toast reveal the ageing with natural cork. The notes of the nose then linger on the finish with remarkable freshness and finesse.
Grape Variety:
This Cuvee Perle is a very exclusive blend of 80% Chardonnay and 20% Pinot Noir, all the grapes being selected from Grand Cru & Premiers Crus villages.
Technical Characteristics:
Dosage - 7.45 g/l
Ageing:
This wine has been aged for over 5 years in cellars. The real cork used for this long ageing allows the best control of oxydo-reduction and ensures the development of very delicate and complex aromas. It is a very rare practice today in Champagne and the bottle is known for its famous “bague carrée” (square ring).
Pairing with food:
At this stage, its freshness goes well along with delicate entrees such as carpaccio of duck foie gras, pastry of salmon and red mullet, raviolis of ris de veau and lobster.
History:
One of the original 26 Grand Marque Champagne Houses, Ayala has had a noble history since its inception in 1860 when Edmond de Ayala received the magnificent Chateau as the dowry for his wedding. Located in Aÿ, in the heart of the Montagne de Reims vineyards, Ayala naturally focuses on Grand Cru Pinot Noir for its Brut Majeur and its Vintage Brut. Ayala is a "small" house, the artisan of champagne-making.
Review:
"Toasty, complex and intense with lovely bright fruit and herby freshness. The palate is rich and intense with bright, complex fruit. Beautifully intense and complex with real freshness. 94/100"
Jamie Goode, Wine Anorak, June 2010
