With, rather unbelievably, less than twenty sleeps now until a certain festive holiday, the bubbly joys here in the shop go on this coming weekend, with two fantastic estates lining the tasting table and all on special - Bollinger and Ayala!
With the tasting kicking off this coming Saturday (9th) at 12pm and running until 2pm, don't miss the chance to bask in the bright brilliance of Ayala, with the top value found in their Brut Majeur sitting on special with the silky 2016 Blanc de Blancs, alongside the striking bold palates found in these four Bollinger bottles; a characteristic of theirs celebrated by fans the world over, and considered the very peak of the region in the eyes of many! With their two signature non-vintage expressions to kick things off, we then ascend to the stunning Grande Année 2014 and the PN AYC Blanc de Noirs (based primarily from the 2018 vintage).
We hope you can all join in for what will be a joyous celebration of everything that makes these two houses so very special ❤️
Free Tasting Lineup - Saturday 9th of December
Running from 12 to 2pm
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Bollinger Special Cuvée NV - $95 on offer ; $105 RRP
// 60% Pinot Noir, 25% Chardonnay, and 15% Meunier
"A golden color, distinctive of black grape varieties. Very fine bubbles. On the nose, it has a beautiful aromatic complexity, ripe fruit, and spicy aromas, with hints of roasted apples, apple compote, and peaches. On the palate, there is a subtle combination of structure, length, and vivacity. The bubbles are like velvet. Flavors of pear, brioche and spicy aromas, notes of fresh walnut. Pair with all fish, especially sushi and sashimi, shellfish such as shrimp, prawns, crayfish and grilled lobster, poultry and white meat, cashews, parmesan or prosciutto." - House Notes
"The complexity and richness of Special Cuvée is unparalleled among the entry non-vintage blends of every Champagne house, short of ascending to the mesosphere of Krug. Its grand recipe explains why, built on incredible depth of 50%-60% reserves. Triumphant complexity is a given at Bollinger, but it’s the dynamic freshness and vitality that really set it apart as one of the most affordable Champagne benchmarks." - 96 Points, Decanter
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Bollinger Brut Rosé NV - $135 on offer ; $149 RRP
// 62% Pinot Noir, 24% Chardonnay and 14% Pinot Meunier
Dosage: 7-8gr/L
Aged 8 months in barrel
"When Champagne Bollinger decided to embark on making a rosé, its standards were uncompromising: it had to have freshness, of course, but also structure and elegance. Bollinger Rosé therefore falls within the same vein as Special Cuvée, with its spiced notes. The addition of a superb red wine from the Poirier Saint-Pierre and Montboeuf plots in Verzenay or the ones in Aÿ, worked in the same way as the vines of the legendary Côte aux Enfants plot, lends it an assertive aromatic power. It also boasts a brilliance, presence and delicate quality that are the hallmark of great blends. A bright rosé with subtle golden hues. The nobility of red berries: hints of red currant, cherry and wild strawberry; a spicy touch, not unlike Special Cuvée. A subtle combination of structure, length and vivacity, with a tannic finish due to the adjunction of red wine; bubbles as fine as velvet; flavours of wild berries." - House Notes
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Bollinger PN AYC 18 Blanc de Noirs - $210 on offer ; $230 RRP
// 100% Pinot Noir (dosage 6g/L)
"Each edition unveils an expression of a principal cru and base year, carefully chosen by Champagne Bollinger, meaning the cuvée reinvents itself year after year. One of the defining features of the Bollinger PN cuvée is the way it captures different styles of Pinot Noir: the PN AYC18 offers a new vision of Maison Bollinger’s mastery of this grape variety. As the fourth edition of Bollinger PN, the '18 shows a distinct style that showcases the specificities of the Aÿ terroir, the principal cru in the blend (the blend predominantly from the 2018 vintage). Notes of honey, quince and candied citrus. Aromas of marzipan and blood orange compliment a nose full of sweet spices and a refreshing hint of menthol. Serious, understated and rich, this wine is beautifully expansive with a finish full of citrus which enhances the freshness." - House Notes
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Bollinger Grande Année 2014 - $250 on offer ; $279 RRP
// 61% Pinot Noir and 39% Chardonnay (Dosage 8g/L)
"Tinted with golden glints that reflect the wine’s maturity and Bollinger vinification techniques. A precise and fruity nose with a slight scent of sea-air. Aromas of cherry and lemon mingle with quince and bergamot. Then notes of hazelnut and almond, peach and mirabelle plum complete this wine’s range of aromas. The initial sensation is a fine and intense effervescence, followed by a wonderful vinosity, and then balanced with delicate acidity. Its very fine texture and sea-air finish bring excellent length on the palate, accompanied by a delicate minerality and the complex flavors of orchard fruit and citrus. This wine unfurls gradually, revealing its full potential and intensity." - House Notes
"The 2014 La Grande Année is stunning. In fact, it is one of the best recent editions I can remember tasting. What comes through most is the wine’s sizzling energy and tension, qualities that aren’t often associated with Bollinger, where the Champagnes tend to show more breadth and volume. In 2014, readers will find a Grande Année built on linear intensity and drive. A truly magical Grande Année that will delight Champagne fans for several decades. I can’t recommend the 2014 highly enough. It’s a total knock-out." - 98 Points, Antonio Galloni, Vinous
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Ayala Brut Majeur NV - $76 on offer ; $85 RRP
// 55% Chardonnay, 30% Pinot Noir and 15% Pinot Meunier
Blend: 70 crus in 2019, 2018, 2017 & 2016
Dosage 6g/L
"Brut Majeur perfectly represents the Ayala style. The Chardonnay, emblematic grape variety, present at 55% in this cuvée expresses all its purity and elegance. The same sheer spirit is expressed through the low dosage and the stainless-steel vat vinification, which ensures that primary aromas are respected. An extended ageing of three years in the cellars confers the final touch to this cuvée, where balance and precision coexist with finesse and elegance. The fruit of a tailor-made blend, Brut Majeur includes more than 70 crus from all of the Champagne region. This exceptional sourcing makes the most of the terroirs’ richness: Côte des Blancs, Montagne de Reims, Vallée de la Marne, Aube, Vitryat, or even Sézannais. At the time of vinification, 120 individual stainless-steel vats each hosts a specific cru, grape variety and year. This careful handling of the raw material makes it possible to preserve the integrity and personality of each cru, to as to create a blend of an extraordinary diversity." - House Notes
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Ayala Blanc de Blancs 2016 - $129 on offer ; $145 RRP
"Recognizable by its both pure and creamy style, Le Blanc de Blancs is a genuine ode to Chardonnay. The emblematic cuvée of the House. Brilliant and contemporary, this prestigious cuvée flourishes in a special bottle, promoting the development of the organoleptic profile during the 6 years of ageing on lees in the cellars." - House Notes
"Delicate, fresh and romantic bouquet of lemon, jasmine, spring flowers and orchard fruits. Very sappy and round, the palate is perfectly balanced and has both a pinpoint mousse and a crystalline texture. Although quite approachable today, it will come into its own when it picks up more complexity and texture with another year or two on the cork. 100% Chardonnay. Dosage of 6 g/L." - 93 Points, Decanter
If you wish to buy any of these champagnes, please use the links above! Alternatively, email us at sales@thewineemporium.com.au, or contact us on (07)32521117 if you have any questions // Prices valid until Wednesday the 13th of December