Champagne Agrapart "Terroirs" Blanc de Blancs, Extra-Brut NV (Disg. 12/24)

Located in Avize in the Côte des Blancs, the estate was founded by Arthur Agrapart in 1894. His grandson Pierre began managing the estate after World War II. Pierre’s sons Pascal and Fabrice represent the fourth generation of the domaine. The brothers holistically farm and handcraft legendary wines from 60 plots spread over 12 hectares. They have long worked organically because they feel that it is what is best for the estate and the wines. Homemade, natural vineyard treatments and composts, as well as horse-plowing select parcels, are family tradition and not current fashion. Fermentations are native, with full malolactic and long aging on the lees in both steel tanks and large, neutral oak barrels.

The chalky soil terroirs of the Côte des Blancs in the heart of Champagne are well suited to imparting freshness, elegance, and finesse. Agrapart’s vineyards are in the grand cru villages of Avize, Cramant, Oger, and Oiry, and mostly planted to Chardonnay. The average vine age is over 40 years old, with some of the grand cru vines over 65 years old. This provides the base for added complexity, vinosity, and, of course, low yields and quantity. Agrapart is only imported to a handful of US markets, and allocations are very small.

Pascal & Fabrice Agrapart are the driving forces of the domaine and are vignerons in every sense. From their natural farming practices to their technical acumen, they are considered an inspiration and mentor to many young grower-producers taking over from their fathers, embracing the grower model and taking full advantage of the current golden age in Champagne.