Pursuitist included Champagne AYALA A/18 and Champagne Bollinger La Grande Année 2015 in its article, “Best Gifts for Wine Lovers.” The story includes a selection of gifts that will be well received by the seasoned collector or a new enthusiast.

Champagne AYALA A/18 is described as a unique Blanc de Blancs cuvée sourced from Grand and Premier Cru vineyards, which showcase purity of chalky soils from the Cote des Blancs and Montagne de Reims. Benefiting from more than six years of extended aging, A/18 is “complex, refined with a creamy texture, balanced by an Extra-Brut dosage for exceptional freshness.”

The writer offers a bit of background on the blend of Champagne Bollinger La Grande Année 2015, underscoring the dominance of Pinot Noir. Continuing, the recommendation points out this prestige cuvée is known for its complexity, is crafted only in perfect harvest years, and is vinified entirely in oak. “Indulge in notes of honey, gingerbread, cinnamon, pastry and candied orange.”

Read the full article and wine recommendations HERE

Bloomberg Businessweek wine correspondent Elin McCoy featured Champagne Ayala A/18 in a print and online article, “Trendy Sparkling Wines to Get Your Holiday Parties Started Right.”

The short and sweet write up highlights AYALA as a revitalized Champagne House, and describes the 100% Chardonnay bubbly as “light, vivid, and intense with bright jasmine aromas and flavor notes of blood oranges.” McCoy suggests pairing it with a scampi and smoked salmon, both great ideas for holiday entertaining.

See the print PDF enclosed and the online story HERE

The International Wine Review includes Champagne AYALA A/18 and Champagne Bollinger La Grande Année 2015 in its seasonally timed article, “Champagne & Sparkling Wine for the Holidays.”

The write up highlights the sourcing of Champagne AYALA’s 100% expression of Chardonnay, noting it is “fresh and pure on the palate, with nuanced flavors and a sense of overall finesse,” while also mentioning its tight and mineral finish.

Before delving into the tasting notes of Champagne Bollinger La Grande Année 2015, the writer speaks to the difficult growing season, yet in the hands of Bollinger resulted in a bold, dramatic wine “in intensity and breadth.” He continues by describing that “the bouquet reveals citrus, pear, spice, and brioche and a texturally rich, dense palate.” The review highlights winemaking details and calls out how this can be cellared for years to come.

Read the full reviews HERE

Peter Hoyne of The Chicago Wine Press published two terrific reviews of Champagne AYALA A/18 and Champagne Bollinger Special Cuvée, which accompanied a story he wrote to help readers select the best bottles of sparkling to bring to different types of holiday parties.

Importantly, the write up notes that AYALA A/18 is a 100% pure expression of Chardonnay. Aged for six years and crafted from six premier and grand cru sites, A/18 offers purity, elegance, and tension with a low dosage. Its sleek profile showcases notes of fresh brioche, spiced pears, green apple, and wet stone, finishing clean and graceful with vibrant citron acidity. Read the full review of this wine HERE

When describing Champagne Bollinger’s flagship cuvée, Hoyne highlights the high proportion of 60% Pinot Noir in the blend. Aged for 7-8 years, he describes Special Cuvée as powerful yet refined, with a creamy mousse and toasted brioche notes. Its core is layered with caramelized red apples, candied lemons, and chalky minerality, offering a balanced and approachable profile. Read the full review of this wine HERE

Champagne Bollinger_Chicago Wine Press_12.10.24 (1) Champagne Ayala_Chicago Wine Press_12.10.24 (2)

In its annual roundup of standout bottles of bubbly, VinePair highlights top Champagnes to seek out, including the crisp, mineral-driven Champagne Ayala Brut Majeur NV and the richly structured Champagne Bollinger Special Cuvée NV among its best finds. The list spans styles and price points, from easy-to-find classics and crowd-pleasers to elegant splurges and Rosés.

We’re thrilled to see two VINTUS-represented maisons highlighted on the list; VinePair’s tasting panel evaluated thousands of wines at its HQ this year, considering balance, typicity, and quality, and the bottles that rose to the top did so in extraordinary company. A well-deserved spotlight for Champagnes that overdeliver every time.

Check out the full list of Champagnes HERE.

In a festive guide from Cottages & Gardens, wine writer Baroness Sheri de Borchgrave suggests eight elegant Champagnes perfect for welcoming the new year in style, including standout bottles from Champagne Bollinger and Champagne AYALA.

With thoughtful tasting notes, she highlights the refined Brut Majeur from AYALA, known for its vibrant citrus, stone fruit and chalky minerality, and Bollinger’s richly textured Champagne Bollinger PN TX20, a 100% Pinot Noir cuvée with citrus, peach, quince and red-currant aromas framed by flinty minerality. Both wines are beautiful options for a New Year’s celebration, and they are in excellent company with the rest of the roundup.

Check out the rest of their suggestions HERE.

In its holiday sparkling wine roundup, Food & Wine highlights standout bottles perfect for festive toasts. Included in the lineup are the crisp, citrus-driven Champagne Ayala Brut Nature NV and the rich, benchmark Champagne Bollinger La Grande Année Brut 2015 among its top picks. The article showcases a broad spectrum of sparkling styles from around the world, but places a spotlight on these two classic Champagnes as exemplars of quality and celebratory character at the top tier of the list.

Organized by occasion (party pours, gifts, and splurges), the guide helps readers match sparkling wines to the scale and mood of their events, while underscoring that both Ayala and Bollinger bring refined balance and depth to any gathering.

Check out the full guide HERE.