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Champagne Ayala
Perle d’Ayala 2002
Champagne, France
A treasure in the portfolio, Perle d’Ayala is produced only in exceptional years, according to practices that have remained faithful to the Champagne tradition. Composed of a majority of Chardonnay, this wine captures the essence of the Champagne terroir, in the purest respect of the style of the House.
This beautifully refined prestige cuvée is 80% Chardonnay and 20% Pinot Noir, all from Grand Cru villages.
Vineyard
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Ayala currently owns 35 acres in Champagne. Thanks to its privileged location in the heart of the Grand Crus of Montagne de Reims and their link to Bollinger, they also have unique access to top quality grapes. Fruit for this prestige Champagne was selected from 100% Grand Crus villages: Le Mesnil-sur-Oger,
Chouilly, Cramant, Verzy.
Winemaking
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This beautifully refined prestige cuvée is 80% Chardonnay and 20% Pinot Noir, all from Grand Cru villages. Everything from grape reception to vinification, aging, riddling and disgorgement is done at the Ayala cellars. The Cuvée Perle d’Ayala rests in the cellar for 9 years after disgorgement under cork (not crown), in order to allow for controlled oxidation and development of complex aromas and flavors. This is a very rare practice in Champagne today.
Vintage
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The harvest in 2002 was an incredible vintage in Champagne. The season was warm, not too hot – and produced seductive, creamy Chardonnay and powerful Pinot Noir fruit for this expression.
Tasting Note
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“Clear and bright, with light amber tones. The wine has a rich nose, revealing notes of brioche, vanilla, cooked white fruit and a great complexity. Full of finesse, the palate is also generous and ample, featuring notes of roasted hazelnuts, pastries, honey and ripe fruit.” – Caroline Latrive, Cellar Master
Food Pairing
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Thanks to its remarkable intensity and pedigree in terms of provenance, Perle d’Ayala 2002 is a great match for noble dishes, such as seared foie gras, chicken with a mushroom sauce or braised veal sweetbreads.
Color
White
Grape Varieties
Chardonnay, Pinot Noir
Appellation
Champagne, France
Farming
Ayala encourages their growers to use organic fertilizers and avoid insecticides, herbicides and pesticides.
Alcohol
12.0%
Suggested Retail Price
$175.00
Reviews
"freshness of fruit"
Wine & Spirits - October 5, 2018 “Where else but in Champagne can you buy a 12-year-old wine with this freshness of fruit, immediately brisk with scents of lemon and orange, generously layering in flavors of golden plums? At first, all that fruit seems heady, but air brings out the rootier depths, acidity ghosting the finish with the sort of masculine power that will make great 2002s riveting wines for decades. If you open this now, decant it and have a platter of shellfish on hand, especially cracked crab claws.”
Reviews
Trade Materials
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