Champagne AYALA is delighted to announce the relaunch of their signature Le Blanc de Blancs cuvée with the release of the First Edition of the AYALA A/18 Le Blanc de Blancs. The relaunch of this 100% Chardonnay cuvée is an exceptional blend of Grands and Premiers Crus from the Côte des Blancs and, for the first time, now incorporates grapes from the Montagne de Reims. This new vintage blend captures the purity of the chalk soils and the near-perfect conditions of the 2018 viticultural year.

The relaunch took place at The Petersham, Covent Garden on 16 April hosted by Champagne AYALA Export Manager, Laurence Alamanos. Guests enjoyed an expertly paired menu with several AYALA cuvées including a “vin surprise”, a rare opportunity to taste the exquisite AYALA Le Blanc de Blancs 2008.

This first vintage edition of the AYALA A/18 Le Blanc de Blancs blends 6 complementary crus carefully selected from the 2018 harvest: Chouilly, Cramant, Le Mesnil-sur-Oger, Oger, Bisseuil and Cuis. Over six years of ageing in the cellar brings out the aromatic complexity and creamy texture that the AYALA Le Blanc de Blancs is renowned for. The revised Extra-Brut dosage at 5g/l makes this a champagne of outstanding purity and freshness. The A/18 has also been updated with a modernised, eco-friendly label design to reflect the simple elegance of this wine.

The 2018 vintage provided ideal growing conditions for the Chardonnay grapes. A rainy winter and mild spring followed by a sunny summer heralded optimal conditions for an early harvest. The Chardonnay grapes were plentiful and in excellent condition. Despite a warm year, the region’s finest terroirs showed themselves at their very best thanks to the cool clay subsoils.

Champagne AYALA’s Managing Director, Hadrien Mouflard, comments: “We are very excited to be relaunching our signature Le Blanc de Blancs cuvée with the A/18. It is an extremely vivacious wine with beautiful bitter notes and a chalky minerality that is so characteristic of AYALA’s signature cuvée. We have also taken the decision to reduce the dosage to make this wine an Extra Brut, allowing the broad palette of nuances and aromas of the Chardonnay grapes to really express themselves to their full potential.”

The A/18 will be followed in time by new expressions of this cuvée that will continue to explore the diversity of Champagne’s Chardonnay terroirs. Champagne AYALA will craft new editions, bringing together complementary terroirs that tell a new story from vintage to vintage.

The AYALA A/18 Le Blanc de Blancs is now available in the UK from selected Fine Wine Merchants and Specialists.