2007 Ayala, No.7 Brut, Champagne, France
£58, thefinestbubble.com; £70, thechampagnecompany.com, champagnedirect.co.uk; £560 per 12 bottles in bond, biwine.com
I have a soft spot for Ayala. I visited the winery 13 years ago and asked them to keep back several hundred cases of their fizz in their cellars, in Aÿ, for an extra nine months over the usual three years, to differentiate it from the regular Brut Majeur cuvée. A label saying “extra age” was stuck on the neck. This special label was a huge success for the members of a private club, but it was not on general release. It was a cool project and the wine was sublime.
Subscribe to MoneyWeek
Subscribe to MoneyWeek today and get your first six magazine issues absolutely FREE
Sign up to Money Morning
Don't miss the latest investment and personal finances news, market analysis, plus money-saving tips with our free twice-daily newsletter
Don't miss the latest investment and personal finances news, market analysis, plus money-saving tips with our free twice-daily newsletter
Imagine my surprise when I spotted a bottle at a Majestic tasting the other day, labelled Ayala Extra Age (£44.99, reduced to £34.99 for a Mix Six) – it brought the memories flooding back and reminded me that I had to tell you about my featured wine, the moment it secured retail distribution.
Tasted back in early June, this sensational sparkler was made to celebrate Ayala’s 160th anniversary this year. Available in very small quantities, 2007 No.7 is made from the fruit selected from seven Grand Cru villages – two-thirds chardonnay from Avize, Chouilly, Cramant, Le Mesnil-sur-Oger and Oger, and one-third pinot noir from Aÿ and Verzy. It is finished with a firm 6 gm/l dosage and, after 11 years of (extra) ageing, it is the epitome of affordable elegance. I say “affordable” because its flavour obliterates all but a handful of Champagnes with three-digit price tags.
Matthew Jukes is a winner of the International Wine & Spirit Competition’s Communicator of the Year (matthewjukes.com)
-
Barclays warns of significant rise in social media investment scamsInvestment scam victims are losing an average £14k, with 61% of those falling for one over social media. Here's how to spot one and keep your money safe
-
Over a thousand savings accounts now offer inflation-busting rates – how long will they stick around?The rate of UK inflation slowed again in March, boosting the opportunity for savers to earn real returns on cash in the bank. But you will need to act fast to secure the best deals.
-
Val d’Isère is a valley of delightsMoneyWeek Travel Matthew Partridge reviews Airelles Val d’Isere and Hotel Mont-Blanc in the famous French ski resort
-
Review: The Ozen Collection – a dream stay in the MaldivesMoneyWeek Travel Ozen Life Maadhoo and Ozen Reserve Bolifushi, where luxury meets nature, are almost too good to be true, says Nicole García Mérida.
-
Review: An odyssey through Sri LankaMoneyWeek Travel Merryn Somerset Webb explores the South Asian country’s ruins, jungle and fabulous food.
-
Flexjet review: the only way to flyMoneyWeek Travel Chris Carter flies with Flexjet, a provider of fractional ownership of private jets, to St Moritz in Switzerland for the Snow Polo World Cup.
-
South American nature holidays – take a walk on the wild sideTravel We find holidays in South America where you can explore nature in all its diversity.
-
10 most affordable places to rent (and least) in EnglandAs rent prices increase, it’s good to know where renters can get the best value. And which are the least affordable areas, to avoid.
-
Collectables: The Christmas gift for people who have everythingA collectable is deeply personal. It is the archetypal thoughtful Christmas gift.
-
Lucknam Park Hotel review: a stately stay in the countryMoneyWeek Travel Matthew Partridge tries his hand at horse riding at the luxury Lucknam Park Hotel in Wiltshire.
