96 points Cameron Douglas, MS: "Complex, fresh, layered and classic, a fascinating bouquet with layers of sweet citrus and a deep centered autolysis, white strawberry and white fleshed stone fruits. A delicious wine on the palate with fine a mousse texture, a whisper of white spice and white stone fruits. The acid line is perfect carrying flavours and highlighting the complexities of autolysis. Delicious and lengthy with best drinking from day of purchase through 2032. Outstanding value! (Nov 2024)"
94 points James Suckling: "A layered wine with spicy, almost stony, minerality. Salted lemons and oranges. Crisp on the palate with light to medium body and flavors of strawberries and restrained pastry. Chalky mineral aftertaste. Dosage 6 g/L. Drink or hold. (7/18/25)"
92 points Falstaff: "Pale golden yellow, silver reflections, fine, lively mousse. Delicate notes of fresh yellow plum, some mango and blossom honey, a hint of flowers and lime. Juicy, fruity, ripe pineapple, fine acidity, a charming food companion. (10/6/23)"
91 points Audrey Frick (JebDunnuck.com): "The NV Champagne Brut Majeur is based on 2020 with 42% reserve wine dating to 2016 and is composed of 55% Chardonnay, 30% Pinot Noir and the rest Meunier. It has the very attractive fruity and floral profile of the 2020 vintage, with aromas of fresh peach, almond flour, white flowers, and linen. Medium-bodied, it’s refreshing and pure, with a lively mousse and a clean, stony finish. It’s elegant and gently rounded all the way through with a stylish freshness. Drink: 2025-2035. (Dec 2024)"
91 points John Gilman (View From the Cellar): "The new release of Ayala “Brut Majeur” non-vintage Brut is from the base year of 2019 and composed from its customary cépages of fifty-five percent chardonnay, thirty percent pinot noir and fifteen percent pinot meunier. The wine this year includes forty-three percent reserve wines. It was disgorged in January of 2023 and finished with a dosage of six grams per liter. The wine delivers a refined bouquet of apple, white peach, brioche, raw almond, chalky soil tones and a topnote of white flowers. On the palate the wine is crisp, full-bodied, complex and very nicely balanced, with fine depth of fruit at the core, good soil undertow, frothy mousse and a long, vibrant and classy finish. Good juice that will age very nicely. 2024-2045. (Sep/Oct 2024)"
91 points Tom Hewson (Decanter): "Ayala's recent moves to increase the Chardonnay content and freshness of its entry-level cuvée have worked a treat: it's now a very solid buy. Sunny yellow stone fruit and succulent clementine speak of zesty, bright Chardonnay, to which the gentle, flowing mousse is perfectly matched, subtly backed by some Pinot Noir structure and pale, crusty bread richness. An excellent find for fans of delicacy and finesse, this stands tall among the major maison non-vintages. Drinking Window: 2024-2026. (Oct 2024)"
90 points Yohan Castaing (Wine Advocate): "Based on the 2020 vintage, complemented with 42% of réserve wines from 2016 to 2019, the NV Brut Majeur offers up a fresh, minty bouquet of lemon oil, pear, white peach and herbs. Moderately weighted, fresh and tense, it's incisive with bright acids and long, ethereal finish. This blend of 55% Chardonnay, 30% Pinot Noir and 15% Pinot Meunier is a lively, harmonious Champagne. Drink: 2024-2034. (Oct 2024)"
90 points Wine Spectator: "[$68 list] Chiseled acidity is well-integrated with the creamy mousse, plus flavors of wild strawberry and cherry, honey-roasted almond and candied pink grapefruit zest in this vibrant Champagne, with a lasting, mineral-driven finish. Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier. (8/11/25)"
94 points James Suckling: "A layered wine with spicy, almost stony, minerality. Salted lemons and oranges. Crisp on the palate with light to medium body and flavors of strawberries and restrained pastry. Chalky mineral aftertaste. Dosage 6 g/L. Drink or hold. (7/18/25)"
92 points Falstaff: "Pale golden yellow, silver reflections, fine, lively mousse. Delicate notes of fresh yellow plum, some mango and blossom honey, a hint of flowers and lime. Juicy, fruity, ripe pineapple, fine acidity, a charming food companion. (10/6/23)"
91 points Audrey Frick (JebDunnuck.com): "The NV Champagne Brut Majeur is based on 2020 with 42% reserve wine dating to 2016 and is composed of 55% Chardonnay, 30% Pinot Noir and the rest Meunier. It has the very attractive fruity and floral profile of the 2020 vintage, with aromas of fresh peach, almond flour, white flowers, and linen. Medium-bodied, it’s refreshing and pure, with a lively mousse and a clean, stony finish. It’s elegant and gently rounded all the way through with a stylish freshness. Drink: 2025-2035. (Dec 2024)"
91 points John Gilman (View From the Cellar): "The new release of Ayala “Brut Majeur” non-vintage Brut is from the base year of 2019 and composed from its customary cépages of fifty-five percent chardonnay, thirty percent pinot noir and fifteen percent pinot meunier. The wine this year includes forty-three percent reserve wines. It was disgorged in January of 2023 and finished with a dosage of six grams per liter. The wine delivers a refined bouquet of apple, white peach, brioche, raw almond, chalky soil tones and a topnote of white flowers. On the palate the wine is crisp, full-bodied, complex and very nicely balanced, with fine depth of fruit at the core, good soil undertow, frothy mousse and a long, vibrant and classy finish. Good juice that will age very nicely. 2024-2045. (Sep/Oct 2024)"
91 points Tom Hewson (Decanter): "Ayala's recent moves to increase the Chardonnay content and freshness of its entry-level cuvée have worked a treat: it's now a very solid buy. Sunny yellow stone fruit and succulent clementine speak of zesty, bright Chardonnay, to which the gentle, flowing mousse is perfectly matched, subtly backed by some Pinot Noir structure and pale, crusty bread richness. An excellent find for fans of delicacy and finesse, this stands tall among the major maison non-vintages. Drinking Window: 2024-2026. (Oct 2024)"
90 points Yohan Castaing (Wine Advocate): "Based on the 2020 vintage, complemented with 42% of réserve wines from 2016 to 2019, the NV Brut Majeur offers up a fresh, minty bouquet of lemon oil, pear, white peach and herbs. Moderately weighted, fresh and tense, it's incisive with bright acids and long, ethereal finish. This blend of 55% Chardonnay, 30% Pinot Noir and 15% Pinot Meunier is a lively, harmonious Champagne. Drink: 2024-2034. (Oct 2024)"
90 points Wine Spectator: "[$68 list] Chiseled acidity is well-integrated with the creamy mousse, plus flavors of wild strawberry and cherry, honey-roasted almond and candied pink grapefruit zest in this vibrant Champagne, with a lasting, mineral-driven finish. Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier. (8/11/25)"
| Product SKU | 355102 |
| Producer | Ayala |
| Country | France |
| Region | Champagne |
| Varietal | Champagne / Sparkling Blend |
| Designation | Brut |
| Vintage | NV |
| Size | 750ml |
| Color | White |
| Blend | 55% Chardonnay, 30% Pinot Noir, 15% Pinot Meunier |
| ABV | 12.0% |
| Ships To |
