AGRAPART 05 XBT MINERAL
Brothers Arthur and Fabrice Agrapart have guided the rise of their family’s Champagne estate since 1984. Blessed with a patrimony of outstanding Côte des Blancs vineyard parcels (mostly Grand Cru rated) the duo has maximized the potential of their land through rigorous biodynamic viticulture practices and non-interventionist winemaking techniques. Their hard work and skill has resulted in consistently high critical acclaim and, as one would expect, a burgeoning fan base. While it is great to see the family’s dedication and hard work pay off, their success has caused our allocations to grow smaller with each new release. These latest vintage bottlings are in particularly short supply. All the quoted remarks below are those of Peter Leim from his Champagnequide.net website. Peter’s ratings follow the Michelin Guide style where even a single star “...denotes a wine of particular quality and distinctiveness of character, one that stands out among its peers in some significant way.”“This is blended from two vineyards of similar terroir: Le Champ Bouton in Avize, which is fermented in tank, and Bionnes in Cramant, vinified in 600-liter oak casks. While it shows the depth and amplitude of the vintage, its flavors of apple, white peach and orange citrus are unusually high-toned, feeling delicately poised despite their concentration. It’s all pinned down by laser-like acidity, producing a clean, kinetic tension on the palate, and it’s thoroughly saturated by aromas of chalk, particularly on the long, finely-detailed finish. It’s an excellent 2005, and should be long-lived. Last tasted: 11/11. 2 Stars”
