Ayala Brut Majeur NV 375ml

Ayala Brut Majeur NV 375ml is the house non-vintage Champagne from Ayala in Aÿ, here in a 375ml half bottle. Chardonnay leads the blend, with Pinot Noir and Meunier in support, and a low dosage keeps it dry and fresh. It is 12% ABV.

Buy Ayala Brut Majeur Online in New Zealand

Edmond de Ayala founded the house in 1860, and it has been part of Champagne Bollinger since 2005. Ayala calls itself a pioneer of low dosage Champagne, and Brut Majeur shows that style clearly. The current blend is about 55% Chardonnay, 30% Pinot Noir and 15% Meunier, drawn from around 70 crus. The wine rests on its lees for about three years on average before release, and the house lists the dosage at 6 g/L.

Ayala’s own tasting notes:

Nose: Expressive and layered, with citrus, white flowers and white-fleshed fruit.

Palate: Balanced, fresh and precise, with a fruity line through the middle.

Brut Majeur is the everyday bottle in the Ayala range, sitting below the Blanc de Blancs and the Brut Nature. If you like a lighter, Chardonnay-driven Champagne rather than a rich, Pinot-heavy one, this is the style to try. The half bottle suits two people sharing a glass before dinner, or one person who wants Champagne without opening a full 750ml.

Serve it well chilled, around 8 to 10°C, in a tulip or white wine glass. Ayala matches it with white fish, shellfish, poultry or a cheese board, and oysters work well too. Once opened, finish a half bottle the same day.