Ayala Collection N°17 Blanc de Blancs, Champagne

Founded in Aÿ in 1860, Champagne Ayala has long championed elegance, freshness and a restrained approach to dosage. Now part of the Bollinger family of houses, Ayala retains its own distinctive style, with Chardonnay playing a particularly important role. Collection N°17 is a limited edition Blanc de Blancs celebrating the exceptional quality and individuality of the 2017 harvest, a beautifully refined Champagne that demonstrates the house's talent for producing wines of purity and character.

Made entirely from Chardonnay, Collection N°17 draws on carefully selected Grand Cru and Premier Cru vineyards, with extended ageing on lees developing complexity while preserving the wine's natural freshness. The 2017 growing season presented challenges, making careful fruit selection particularly important. The result is a finely structured Champagne with attractive citrus intensity, delicate texture and a lovely mineral character.

Pale gold with a fine, persistent bead. Fresh lemon, white peach and green apple mingle with acacia blossom, toasted almond and a suggestion of warm pastry. The palate is beautifully focused, with crisp citrus, a delicate creamy mousse and refreshing acidity. Subtle notes of hazelnut, lemon peel and chalk carry through a long, dry finish.

Try it with Japanese prawn tempura, grilled calamari with preserved lemon or a delicate crab and fennel salad. For something different, asparagus with whipped ricotta and toasted pistachios would be a lovely match.

Cellaring: Drink now to 2035. Its freshness and fine structure should reward several more years in the cellar.