Champagne Agrapart Grand Cru ''Vénus'' 2016

VinousThe 2016 Extra Brut Blanc de Blancs Vénus Grand Cru is beautifully lifted right out of the gate. Lemon confit, white flowers, marzipan and dried flowers all grace this soft, exquisite Champagne. The Vénus is all about understated precision. There's plenty of that to be found in the 2016. Moreover, the brut nature style works exceptionally well here. Vénus emerges from a tiny 0.3 hectare plot in Avize that has been worked by hand since it was planted in 1959. Disgorged: July, 2022.

Robert ParkerFrom old vines in lieu-dit La Fosse that are planted at somewhat lower density (1.2 meters apart) but where there are consequently very few missing vines or replants, Agrapart's striking 2016 Extra-Brut Blanc de Blancs Grand Cru Vénus unwinds in the glass with scents of citrus oil, crisp stone fruit, toasted almonds, warm biscuits, orange zest and iodine. Full-bodied, concentrated and tightly wound, with terrific depth at the core, racy acids and a long, intensely saline finish, it's another brilliant wine from this benchmark grower-bottler.

James SucklingPlenty of tension and minerality here, with white grapefruit, salted almonds, lightly bitter lemon pith, saltines and stones. Some oyster shells, too. Tight bubbles. Very precise, with lingering salinity. 100% chardonnay. 0g/L dosage. Disgorged May 2022. Drink or hold.