Disgorged in June 2020, Ayala's newly released 2014 Brut Blanc de Blancs wafts from the glass with lovely aromas of crisp orchard fruit, honeyed pear, English walnuts and freshly baked bread. Medium to full-bodied, fleshy and incisive, its ample core of fruit is underpinned by brisk acids and complemented by a pillowy mousse. After the chiselled 2013, this is a precise but somewhat more generous, enveloping wine. Even if that makes it quite approachable today, it will really come into its own when it picks up more complexity and texture with another year or two on the cork. 100% Côte des Blancs chardonnay - 62% Grand Crus, 38% Premier Crus; aged on lees more than 6 years; 6g/L dosage
"Right from the start, this wine is striking on the palate, yet voluptuous and vibrant, showing a silky texture with a lively edge, and finishing with a balanced bittersweet flavour. It releases notes of passion fruits, citrus fruit, ripe white fruit such as vine peaches, and subtle notes of acacia honey that bring a velvety sensation. The long finish is tightly wound on the pure line of characteristic chalky minerality for which the Côte des Blancs is famous."