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Champagne Ayala

N° 7 2007

Champagne, France

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Champagne Ayala’s N° 7 is the second opus from the “The Ayala Collection”, a series of unique cuvée created to express the specificity of a vintage and a selection of exceptional crus through the lens of this boutique Maison.  Produced in limited quantities and released only upon indication that the elements in this wine are integrated and evolved to a point of perfect harmony.

N° 7 is a blend of ⅔ Chardonnay (from the Côtes des Blancs) and ⅓ Pinot Noir (from the Montagne de Reims) sourced exclusively from 7 specific grand crus villages, during the 2007 harvest.

 

Vineyard

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. The 2007 Vintage is sourced from 7 Grand Crus.

Chardonnay: 5 Grands Crus from the Côtes des Blancs
-Chouilly: generosity & finesse
-Oger: fruit & opulence
-Avize: chalkiness & minerality
-Cramant: structure & vinosity
-Le Mesnil-sur-Oger: liveliness & tension

Pinot Noir: 2 Grands Crus from the Montagne de Reims
-Aÿ: generosity & finesse
-Verzy: verve & charisma

Winemaking

Produced in an exceptional vintage, with the most pristine fruit sourced from the top grand crus villages, the No.7 has been crafted with the very best techniques permitted in winemaking practices in Champagne. After the primary fermentation has taken place in small stainless steel vats, a precise blending, and secondary fermentation is complete, the wine will age slowly in the underground cellars at the Ayala Maison for 11 years. During this extensive aging process, the wine will have been sealed in bottle via cork rather than crown cap. This detail is anything but, as all processes (riddling, disgorging, administering the liqueur d’expedition) after corking the bottle during aging must be executed by hand by the cellarmaster and her team. After aging for 11 years, each bottle will be disgorged by hand and given a low dosage of 5g/L.

Vintage

The growing season in 2007 began quite hot, with unusually high temperatures in April that yielded a month’s early start on flowering season. A rainy spring followed by a cold, humid summer was yielding uneven, patchy ripening with notable variance, even by parcel! By late August, more dry, warm weather returned, during which, several growers and maisons quickly began to harvest riper parcels, noting that Chardonnay was the most consistent in quality and ripeness having been the least affected by such chaotic weather. Those fortunate enough to be harvesting Chardonnay yielded a positive result, and those who utilized a draconian approach in harvesting their Pinot Noir and Meunier were rewarded with small quantities of expressive red grapes.

Tasting note

A light golden hue with delicately fine threads of integrated bubbles are an immediate indication of the extensive aging conducted with this wine. Exhibiting intense aromatic density with notes of ripe golden plums, apricot confit, and honeycomb. A rich, creamy mousse-like texture provides structure to these elegant notes giving way to a slight salinity, leaving a powerful, lingering impression of this superb wine.

Food Pairing

Champagne Ayala’s No.7 pairs beautifully with richly flavored yet delicately textured ingredients such as grilled prawns dressed in salted butter, a shallot risotto, trout almondine, or simply, a slice of 24 month raw milk parmesan cheese.

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

$110

Reviews

94

"It's full-bodied, vinous and incisive"

Wine Advocate - June 19, 2020 "A new cuvée for Ayala that was disgorged in July 2019, the 2007 Brut No. 7 derives from fruit sourced in seven grands crus—Chouilly, Oger, Cramant, Le Mesnil-sur-Oger, Avize, Aÿ and Verzy—and saw tirage under cork. Offering up aromas of lemon oil, dried white flowers, walnuts and fresh bread, it's full-bodied, vinous and incisive, with a pillowy mousse, racy acids and a long, mineral finish."

93

"Delightful and supremely elegant"

Decanter - July 22, 2020 "A gentle nacreous silver, with a persistently fine bead. It has aromas of almonds and sourdough, then limes falling with late-season apples, slate and the faintest whisper of honey. The palate is more assertive; plums and nectarine and even a hint of brandy snap dressed in cream. The finish is delightful and supremely elegant - the pedigree of those five great Chardonnay villages brought to bear with consummate skill."

95

"In the classic Ayala style"

Wine Enthusiast - October 20, 2020

"A blend from seven grand crus across the Montagne de Reims and Côte des Blancs, this is dry in the classic Ayala style. Its freshness has been tempered by bottle aging although it is by no means mature and still has taught acidity. The mineral texture of the Chardonnay is balanced by the riper structure of the Pinot Noir in an impressive wine."

91

"Well-knit and bright"

Wine Spectator - December 8, 2020

"Toast and spice notes enrich the lemon curd, glazed apricot and candied ginger flavors in this racy Champagne, with a fine, lively bead. Well-knit and bright, featuring a minerally finish."

Trade Materials

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Champagne Ayala N° 7 Bottle Shot

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