Agrapart, Brut Nature Blanc de Blancs Grand Cru 'Vénus' 2016

For a small group of grower producers in Champagne, making wines with estate-grown grapes isn’t enough. These houses focus on cuvée-specific bottlings that showcase the unique characteristics of individual towns, vineyards, or even rows of vines. Leading that charge is Agrapart. This fifth generation estate just down the road from Selosse makes a range of chardonnay-based Champagnes, all of which highlight specific plots in the town of Avize. Their wines vary in style, but they all share brightness and complexity, as well as the ability to age for decades in the bottle.

‘Venus’ is Agrapart's single vineyard emblem. It comes from a half-acre vineyard that was planted 10 years before Woodstock. The vineyard has rich, clay soils that lead to a luxurious texture. The vineyard is not named Venus, but the horse that plows it is…