100% Côte des Blancs chardonnay from Le Mesnil-sur-Oger, Chouilly and Cramant; a selection of the best villages each season; only made in the best years; aged 5 years on lees; classy new bottle and label; 6g/L dosaGE
I was privileged to be one of the first to taste Latrive’s first Blanc de Blancs Vintage as chef de cave, considered by managing director Hadrian Mouflard to be the flagship of the new Ayala. Latrive’s favourite cuvée is a focused and tense style in its newly disgorged state, energised by the pizzazz of lime and lemon fruit, with a linear and straight palate of fine chalk minerality that epitomises three of the Côte des Blancs’ great grand crus. It opens with a hint of grilled-toast reduction, notes of white pepper and even a hint of grass. A taut style that will benefit from time in the cellar to open, expand and blossom.