Champagne Ayala expands its most exclusive range with Collection N°18, a limited‑edition cuvée marking a historic milestone: it is the first Blanc de Blancs sourced from the Grand Cru of Aÿ ever produced by a Champagne Maison. Made exclusively from Chardonnay grown in a proprietary parcel located in the very place where Ayala was founded in 1860, Collection N°18 represents a synthesis of identity, terroir and artisanal savoir‑faire.
Collection: Champagne Ayala’s Vision Through the Great Terroirs
The Collection line embodies one of the Maison’s founding principles: showcasing the diversity and uniqueness of Champagne’s terroirs through cuvées produced in limited quantities and released at the peak of their maturity. Each bottle is individually numbered and born from a rigorous selection, conceived to express a place, a vintage and a precise stylistic interpretation.
Collection N°18 is the fifth chapter in this journey, following editions N°8, N°7, N°14 and N°16. Production is limited to just 9,998 bottles, underscoring the exclusive nature of the project.
A Blanc de Blancs Born in the Heart of Aÿ: Champagne Ayala’s Tribute to Its Origins
With Collection N°18, Ayala places its signature grape — Chardonnay — at center stage, linking it to the terroir that represents the Maison’s historical cradle. The cuvée is crafted exclusively from grapes grown in the lieu‑dit Cocheret, a proprietary parcel located in the Grand Cru of Aÿ, south‑facing and characterized by chalky soils and vines with an average age of around 50 years.
The result is a wine that interprets the grape variety in an unusual way for a territory traditionally associated with Pinot Noir, combining finesse, structure and depth.
With Collection N°18, Champagne Ayala presents the first Blanc de Blancs from the Grand Cru of Aÿ ever produced by a Champagne Maison. Made exclusively from Chardonnay grown in Ayala’s own vineyard in Aÿ — the Maison’s historic birthplace since 1860 — this vintage cuvée offers a new interpretation of the grape that symbolizes Champagne Ayala. In this terroir, Chardonnay reveals a unique expression, where its natural finesse merges with the structure and richness typical of Aÿ.
Collection N°18 carries a significance that goes beyond technical achievement. It is a direct tribute to the Maison’s origins and to the land that shaped its history, as highlighted by Hadrien Mouflard, Ayala’s General Manager:
“Founded in Aÿ and shaped by Chardonnay, Champagne Ayala here unites its signature grape with the Grand Cru where it was born, in an assemblage as rare as it is unprecedented. These few bottles hold a special place in the heart of the Maison.”
The 2018 Vintage and the Pursuit of Excellence
The cuvée is a 2018 vintage, a year the Maison describes as generous and sun‑lit. A rainy winter and mild spring were followed by a dry, bright summer that encouraged an early harvest and particularly favorable conditions for Chardonnay.
The grapes were picked on 4 September 2018 and vinified through micro‑vinifications in small stainless‑steel tanks. The wine then underwent a long six‑year aging on the lees, followed by an additional resting period after disgorgement. The Extra Brut dosage is 5 g/l.
Champagne Ayala Collection N°18: An Elegant Profile Balancing Richness and Precision in a Chardonnay That Speaks of Aÿ
In the glass, Collection N°18 appears bright, with golden reflections. The bouquet reveals notes of pear, Mirabelle plum and pomelo, accompanied by hints of brioche, fresh hazelnut and eucalyptus.
The sensory reading of the wine is captured in the words of Julian Gout, Chef de Caves of the Maison:
“On the eye, a bright wine with golden reflections, Collection Ayala N°18 reveals an inviting aroma with notes of pear, Mirabelle plum and pomelo, accompanied by hints of brioche, fresh hazelnut and a touch of eucalyptus. On the palate, the wine is generous, with a lively opening that reveals aromas of ripe fruit, pastry and the chalky notes characteristic of the Aÿ terroir. A structured and generous wine offering lovely persistence and a creamy finish.”
Collection N°18 is an exercise in style that brings together four fundamental elements: the Grand Cru of Aÿ, the Chardonnay grape, a historic parcel and the 2018 vintage. The result is a cuvée expressing finesse, aromatic complexity, structure and a strong territorial identity.
With this new edition, Ayala reaffirms its commitment to highlighting Champagne’s most distinctive terroirs, transforming a single parcel into a declaration of identity.
