2017 Agrapart Blanc de Blancs Venus
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Tasting notes
100% Chardonnay from Avize grand cru. Spontaneous fermentation in old neutral barrels, inoculated malo, aged in old barrels. Zero dosage. Disgorged May 2023. Pistachio nut and a little bit of walnut-skin and sorrel-leaf bitterness. Spine-clenchingly intense acidity. Persian lime and a central line that is both stony and steely. Citrine purity. Much more coiled and clenched than the other Agrapart wines. Intensity and concentration from the first molecule out the glass to the last molecule lingering on the tongue. The length on this is extraordinary! (TC)
Critic scores
Tamlyn Currin, jancisrobinson.com
Antonio Galloni, Vinous
More reviews and scores
The 2017 Extra-Brut Blanc de Blancs Grand Cru Vénus is more ethereal than the richer Avizoise, offering up aromas of white flowers, sweet stone fruits and fresh hazelnuts, followed by a medium to full-bodied, layered and pillowy palate with a mineral, fine-boned profile and a long, saline finish. It's proof that, despite the vintage's poor reputation, some seriously compelling wines were made in 2017, especially from Chardonnay.
The 2017 Extra Brut Blanc de Blancs Vénus Grand Cru is pretty, floral and nicely lifted, with a gorgeous aromatic presence to match its mid-weight feel. Sourced from La Fosse, a 64-year-old parcel that has seen no mechanical harvesting since its inception (the site was originally tilled by a horse named Vénus), the 2017 is attractive but also a touch ethereal. Zero dosage. Disgorged: May, 2023.
About the producer
Undoubtedly one of the top growers in the Côte des Blancs, Agrapart has a unique traditional approach to producing Champagne, with the result being a loyal and fanatical following who adore this lean and precise style of wine.