A Mareuil-sur-Ay Blanc de Blancs of Rare Precision from One of Champagne's Most Quietly Distinguished Houses

My Wine Man on Ayala. Ayala is one of Champagne's best-kept secrets. Founded in 1860 in Ay, a Premier Cru village on the Marne Valley, Ayala has been part of the Bollinger family since 2005. Where Bollinger is built on Pinot Noir power, Ayala has carved out a reputation for precision, freshness, and low-dosage elegance. The A/18 Le Blanc de Blancs is Ayala's single-vintage, single-varietal statement: 100% Chardonnay from 2018, Extra Brut, allowing the fruit, chalk, and vintage character to express themselves with complete honesty.

Tasting Notes

Pale gold with fine, elegant bubbles. Citrus blossom, ripe pear, and jasmine lead the nose with the 2018 vintage's warmth adding white peach and acacia honey. On the palate, blood orange and pastry-like nuances unfold across a palate of pronounced liveliness and chalky minerality. The extra brut dryness is the defining feature — pure Chardonnay character and the clean, saline energy of chalk terroir.

Food Pairing

The 2018 Ayala A/18 Blanc de Blancs pairs beautifully with sashimi-grade salmon. We love it with Canadian Wild King Salmon Fillet from My Meat Man — served as sashimi with ponzu or pan-seared with brown butter, the rich naturally sweet salmon flesh is a sublime match for the wine's extra brut precision and chalky mineral depth.

Why This Is a Smart Buy

Single-vintage, 100% Chardonnay, Extra Brut, from a house backed by Bollinger's winemaking resources — at HK$544, the 2018 Ayala A/18 Blanc de Blancs is exceptional value.

Looking for a Different Style?

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