Ayala Le Blanc de Blancs 2015/2017 750ml

A first whiff of lemon zest immediately sets the tone. More air and swirling then reveals a backdrop of chalk but also the enticing, cloudlike zestiness of lemon meringue pie. The palate comes in on very light feet – on tiptoe, in fact – but rather than mouth-puckering lemon, you get ultra-light, exquisite creaminess that almost has an edge of lemon oil, bedded on soft, gentle autolysis. A picture of elegance and lightness. Disgorged May 2016. Drinking Window 2020 - 2030

Disgorged in November 2018, Ayala's 2013 Brut Blanc de Blancs offers up an elegant bouquet of lemon oil, English walnuts, crisp yellow apples, linden blossom and hints of praline to come with bottle age. On the palate, it's medium to full-bodied, deep and concentrated, with racy acids, a delicate mousse and a fine-boned, elegant profile. Concluding with a long and nicely defined finish, this vibrant and intense wine is one of the finest wines Ayala has released for some time.

A dense and flavorful blanc de blancs with lots of cooked-apple and sweet pie-crust character. Full body. Rich and almost decadent. Heavier than some, but turns fresh at the end. Drink now.

Produced from grand cru and premier cru fruit grown in the Côte des Blancs, this mineral-driven wine is tight and steely, with the texture still masking the potential of the ripe citrus flavors. That means this vintage wine is still young, sure to develop well and will be best to enjoy from 2022.