2017 Agrapart Venus Brut Nature: Champagne at It's Purest
In the world of grower Champagne, Agrapart stands in a class of its own and the 2017 "Venus" is one of its crown jewels.
The Legacy of Agrapart: Grower Champagne at Its Purest
Founded in 1894, Agrapart has been estate-grown from the very beginning, long before "Grower Champagne" became a movement. For four generations, the Agrapart family has farmed their Grand Cru vineyards in Avize with a singular vision: let the vineyard, not the winemaker, tell the story.
Today, Pascal Agrapart is recognized as one of the pioneers who redefined Champagne, crafting bottles that reflect place, purity, and precision without artifice.
While many houses focus on consistency and brand style, Agrapart vinifies by terroir, highlighting the nuanced differences between sites like Avize, Cramant, and Oger. Alongside legends like Selosse and Larmandier-Bernier, Pascal helped inspire a revolution in Champagne - one rooted in authenticity.
Spotlight on "Vénus": Old Vines, Old-School Passion
Vénus comes from a tiny, treasured 0.3-hectare vineyard called La Fosse, planted in 1959 in the chalky heart of Avize. These are some of the oldest Chardonnay vines in the Côte des Blancs - dry-farmed, biodynamic, and still plowed by horse (named Vénus).
Key Details:
- Single vineyard expression from La Fosse.
- Zero dosage - no sugar added for ultimate purity.
- Biodynamic farming and minimal intervention.
- Vintage-dated every year to capture the character of the season.
- Bottled under cork rather than crown cap, preserving freshness and texture.
Vénus represents Pascal’s ultimate ideal: a Champagne that blends depth and cut, breadth and energy, with nothing standing between you and the vineyard itself.
A Vintage That Defied the Odds: 2017
While the 2017 vintage faced challenges across Champagne - with frost, hail, and uneven ripening - Agrapart excelled where others struggled.
By meticulously tending his vines and harvesting at the perfect moment, Pascal crafted a wine that captures the brightness, clarity, and mineral precision of old-vine Chardonnay at its best.
“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.” — William Kelley, Wine Advocate
Why Collectors Covet Agrapart Vénus
True single-vineyard, estate-grown Champagne is becoming rarer by the year. Vénus stands among the finest examples of biodynamic, grower Champagne, bottling the heartbeat of Avize’s ancient soils.
With tiny production, incredible cellaring potential, and a style that blends raw power with breathtaking finesse, this is a must-have for any serious Champagne collector.