Champagne Agrapart & Fils Terroirs BdB Grand Cru Extra Brut (Disgor...

Champagne Agrapart & Fils is a family-run Champagne house located in the village of Avize, in the heart of the Côte des Blancs. Established in 1894, the domaine has passed through four generations, with Pascal Agrapart currently at the helm. The estate is known for its focus on terroir-driven Champagnes, particularly those made from Chardonnay, which thrive in the chalky soils of the region. Agrapart produces its wines from its 12 hectares of vineyards, many of which are classified as Grand Cru, in villages such as Avize, Cramant, and Oger.

What sets Agrapart & Fils apart is its commitment to sustainable viticulture and minimal intervention in the winemaking process. Pascal Agrapart practices organic farming, and using indigenous yeasts and minimal sulphur ensures that each cuvée truly expresses the unique qualities of its terroir. The Champagnes are aged on lees for extended periods, resulting in wines with complexity, texture, and a distinctive minerality. The estate’s flagship cuvée, "Vénus," named after the family horse that tills the vineyard, is a particularly sought-after example of its artisanal approach.

Chardonnay is often seen as the king of white wine grapes and one of the most widely planted in the world It is suited to a wide variety of soils, though it excels in soils with a high limestone content as found in Champagne, Chablis, and the Côte D`Or. Burgundy is Chardonnay's spiritual home and the best White Burgundies are dry, rich, honeyed wines with marvellous poise, elegance and balance. They are unquestionably the finest dry white wines in the world. Chardonnay plays a crucial role in the Champagne blend, providing structure and finesse, and is the sole grape in Blanc de Blancs.

It is quantitatively important in California and Australia, is widely planted in Chile and South Africa, and is the second most widely planted grape in New Zealand. In warm climates Chardonnay has a tendency to develop very high sugar levels during the final stages of ripening and this can occur at the expense of acidity. Late picking is a common problem and can result in blowsy and flabby wines that lack structure and definition. Recently in the New World, we have seen a move towards more elegant, better- balanced and less oak-driven Chardonnays, and this is to be welcomed.