Champagne Agrapart & Fils: the many facets of Chardonnay

CHAMPAGNE-AGRAPART

Introducing our new champagne allocation: the prestigious champagnes from Agrapart.

Nestled in one of the finest viticultural terroirs of France, this small champagne house will stun you with its extraordinary cuvées, whose powerful expression and surprising minerality is certainly not the norm but truly worth trying. Wine enthusiasts the world over search high and low for the champagnes from this house.

The story of this small, family-run champagne house began in Avize at the end of the 19th century. Initially the house was founded by Mr Arthur Agrapart, and was expanded in the 1950s by Pierre, his grandson. Nowadays, the vineyard runs over 12 hectares, spread over more than 70 parcels planted at 8,000 vines/hectare. The vineyard is essentially made up of Grands crus from the Côte des Blancs: 9.5 hectares of Chardonnay in Avize, Oger, Cramant and Oiry; completed by 1.5 hectares of Chardonnay in Avenay-val-d’or, Coligny Premiers Crus and Vauciennes and 1 hectare of Pinot noir in Avenay-val-d’or, Premier Cru of Montagne de Reims.

With its idyllic setting in the heart of the Grands cru classés villages of the Côte des Blancs, the domain’s 65 parcels benefit from an exceptional terroir. In fact, the chalky nature of the soil is singular, and is, what’s more, one of the reasons for which the house chose to cultivate almost exclusively Chardonnay, which is perfectly adapted to this terroir. The Agrapart family is fully aware of their luck in cultivating their 40-year-old vines on such a beautiful terroir, and take meticulous care of their vines with artisanal, environment-friendly vinifications. Optimal conditions for the cuvées to express their terroir are assured in the winery as well as the parcels: the soils are tilled on the surface, in order to the vines’ root growth and microbial life in the soils; the vines are pruned ‘en Chablis’. Teas and compost are used to stimulate the vine’s natural defenses and to complement copper and sulphur treatments.

Each parcel is vinified separately in vats or demi-muids, undergoing fermentation with ambient yeasts, after allowing the wine to settle without adding enzymes. They then undergo malolactic fermentation, and tartric stabilization happens during the cold winters. Elevage on lees then lasts 6 months and there is neither fining nor filtration. These traditional methods have been handed down through the generations. The current owner of the domain, Mr Pascal Agrapart, continues to wish to express the “truth of the terroir”, and openly extols his status as “Producer and winemaker”. Thanks to this, he can ensure that his grapes are perfectly ripe, and that his cuvées are evolving as they should, with the objective of retaining constant quality.

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The Agrapart house has made Chardonnay its greatest weapon, producing cuvées which showcase several of its many facets. They have become true reference points in terms of pure expressions of the minerality of champagne, the house’s cuvées are characterized by their unique style: body, frankness in the expression of their minerality and terroir, thanks to the very low dosage in the cuvées, but above all the incredible finesse, which has been reinforced since Pascal’s arrival. In fact, having wanted to make the house’s style evolve, he now raises his wines in oak barrels, in order to obtain more mature wines.

Around 100,000 bottles are produced every year, 35% of which are destined to the national market, with the remaining 65% being sold overseas. Victims of their own dazzling success, this house’s truly unique cuvées are becoming harder and harder to find. But don’t fret, we have managed to unearth some bottles, currently for sale on our platform 😉

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Agrapart champagnes currently for sale

Expérience Brut Nature Blanc de Blancs Agrapart & Fils 2012

Bettane et Desseauve: 18/20

The plain, dry Expérience is a parcel-based wine produced from Avize old vines. A pure Blanc de Blancs produced as naturally as possible that boasts a unique palate.

Minéral Extra Brut Blanc de Blancs Agrapart & Fils 2005

Bettane et Desseauve: 16.5/20

Cuvée Minéral is a very typical Blanc de Blancs with brioche aromas, combined with notes of candied fruit. The palate is lively and crystalline, with a mineral structure and slightly lemony notes.

Note de Robert Parker Wine Advocate: 94/100

Extra Brut Complantée Pascal Agrapart

A singular champagne from six grape varieties (Pinot Noir, Pinot Meunier, Pinot Blanc, Arbane, Petit Meslier and Chardonnay), matured in barrels. Pure, direct and deep, it will be ideal as an aperitif

RVF: 15/20

Robert Parker Wine Advocate: 90+/100

Terroirs Extra Brut Blanc de blancs Agrapart & Fils

RVF: 16.7

Cuvée Terroirs is produced from the domain’s best parcels. It delivers aromas of buttery pastries and dried fruit. The palate has beautiful body; rich and creamy, with good salinity and lemony notes.

Bettane et Desseauve: 17.54

Robert Parker Wine Advocate: 93/100

 

What the reviews say:

  • La Revue du Vin de France (three stars)

The wines: although still very young, the cuvée Terroirs, composed mainly from the 2013 harvest, impressed us with its depth and the creaminess of its bubbles. The cuvée parcelle de Complantée is produced from 6 grape varieties (Chardonnay, Pinot noir, meunier, Pinot blanc, Arbane and Petit Meslier) planted in 2003, and will therefore unveil its true potential when the vines are older. Leave the 2011 wines in your cellar for another 5 years. In this vintage, the cuvées are of very high quality, although they lack in the elegance and spirit of the 2010. La Minéral is produced from 50-year-old vines from Avize and Cramant and will develop in directness and salinity in the 20 years to come. Le Vénus has impressive energy and is a sublime expression of Chardonnay (planted in 1959) from the terroir of the Fosse, in Avize. To be opened in ten years.

  • Bettane & Desseauve (four stars)

Pascal Agrapart and his son Ambroise tell us that they assess the geological profiles that they assemble for the grands crus, in Avize, Oger, Oiry and Cramant. There are three vintage cuvées produced every year, the expressions of three different terroirs. The whole range is vinified with precision, with low dosage which showcases the wines’ freshness and vibrancy. The Grand cru Minéral extra-brut is without a doubt the most representative of the domain’s work: produced from the terroirs of Avize and Cramant, it is lightly saline, less conventional than the others, yet perfectly refined.

See all Agrapart Champagnes for sale on iDealwine

See all Champagnes currently for sale

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