Agrapart Champagne Grand Cru Minéral Extra Brut 2017

The specialty of the talented Pascal Agrapart is blanc des blancs Champagne, or Champagne made from 100% chardonnay. That is not surprising, because the domain is located in the heart of the famous Côte des Blancs. This region takes its name from the brilliant white limestone soils, which are extremely suitable for the Chardonnay grape. Pascal owns vineyards in no fewer than four of the area's prestigious grand crus, namely Avize, Cramant, Oger and Oiry.

With his Minéral, Pascal has succeeded in capturing the essence of the Côte des Blancs. The chardonnay for this Blanc de blancs comes from plots with old vines in Avize and Cramant. Both plots have the characteristic limestone soils. This provides freshness and finesse in the final wine. After harvest, about half of the grapes ferment in wooden barrels, the rest in steel tanks. This for an optimal balance between freshness and fruitiness on the one hand, and creaminess and texture on the other. After the second fermentation in the bottle, the Champagne matures on the yeasts for another five years. Pascal hardly adds any more sugar after disgorgement, which makes the Minéral extra brut and therefore nice and dry.

This special millésimé Champagne lives up to its name and origin with its salty, mineral character. The champagne is already impressive to drink, but it can certainly last for a few years. This is Agrapart through and through.

Awards

Mention
The Wine Advocate - September 2020: 96/100 points | Full-bodied, deep and vinous

Description
Disgorged with three grams per liter dosage in August 2019, Pascal Agrapart's 2013 Extra-Brut Blanc de Blancs Grand Cru Minéral is showing beautifully, mingling aromas of citrus oil, dried apricot, pear, toasted hazelnuts and white flowers in a complex bouquet. Full-bodied, deep and vinous, it's layered and incisive, with a racy spine of acidity and a searingly chalky finish.

Mention
Vinous | Antonio Galloni - December 2019: 94/100 points | A Champagne of total seduction, the 2013 simply has it all

Description
The 2013 Extra Brut Blanc de Blancs Grand Cru Minéral is powerful, ample and generous. All of the natural richness of 2013 comes through in this striking, layered exquisitely beautiful Champagne that melds together the essence of top sites in Avize (Les Champboutons) and Cramant (Les Bionnes). Dried citrus, lemon oil, almond and savory herbs add striking shades of nuance throughout, but what is most remarkable about the Minéral is the interplay of textural richness and energy. A Champagne of total seduction, the 2013 simply has it all. Dosage: 5 gr/L. Disgorged: May, 2019.

Mention
The Wine Advocate - August 2019: 95/100 points | This comes warmly recommended

Description
Disgorged in April 2019 with three grams per liter dosage, the 2012 Blanc de Blancs Grand Cru Extra Brut Minéral is showing brilliantly, bursting from the glass with aromas of ripe citrus fruit, warm bread, green apples and crushed chalk. On the palate, it's medium to full-bodied, chiseled and incisive, with a tensile, chalky core that displays considerable concentration and structuring dry extract, as well as a racy spine of acidity. This comes warmly recommended.