Nathan Lane
Wine Correspondent
1:00 AM 2nd November 2024
lifestyle
A Decadent Champagne For Christmas
Agrapart & Fils’ Terroirs Grand Cru Blanc de Blancs is a champagne that demands your full attention.
The family-run champagne house is in the village of Avize, in the heart of Cote des Blancs. Pascal Agrapart is celebrated for his dedication to organic farming and minimal intervention, which allows the vineyard’s terroir to shine through.
The Agrapart estate, established in 1894, is respected in the region, and Pascal’s meticulous approach brings an unparalleled sense of place to each cuvée. The Terroirs is aged on the lees for four years, adding a sophisticated texture and a rounded complexity that is missing in many mass-produced champagnes.
This fantastic champagne begins with an evocative nose. It has subtle aromas of fresh straw and green grass layered with ripe apple and a touch of gooseberry. This is no lightweight champagne designed to sip and forget; it’s lively with a balanced acidity that would pair well with a delicate seafood dish.
The texture is creamy yet clean, with a balance of brightness and richness that holds through to the finish. There’s a saline edge, a subtle mineral quality that speaks to the unique chalky soils of the Côte des Blancs, where Agrapart’s Grand Cru vineyards are nestled. This backbone of minerality adds a structural intensity, making the wine both refreshing and profoundly satisfying.
The Terroirs cuvée is a pure expression of Pascal Agrapart’s dedication to his craft. Every grape in this Extra Brut champagne is sourced from Grand Cru plots in Avize, Oger, Cramant, and Oiry—each one selected with care from vines aged 20 to 40 years. With fruit from two different vintages, including older wine aged in oak barrels, the champagne gains added depth and finesse, marrying crisp fruitiness with hints of toasted pastry and a soft, persistent mousse.
Agrapart & Fils’ Terroirs Grand Cru isn’t just a champagne; it’s a tribute to the Côte des Blancs, crafted by a family whose respect for their vines has shaped one of the region’s most expressive wines.
Available online from £70.
Our wine enthusiast Nathan lives in Leeds and runs the PR and marketing company Campfire PR.
https://campfirepr.com/