Through an inheritance, the famous winery Agrapart & Fils was recently split into two equal parts. Pascal was allowed to keep the vineyards and the names Avizeoise and Venus. Fabrice, on the other hand, was allowed to keep the company name Agrapart, which has now resulted in a brand new domaine called Agrapart Avize on the Côte des Blancs. Fabrice Agrapart owns 5.1 hectares in Grand Cru and 0.4 hectares in Premier Cru (Bergères-les-Vertus). Additionally, he collaborates with Jardin, giving them access to another 5.5 hectares in Mesnil-sur-Oger, Festigny, and Mareuil-le-Port for Pinot Meunier. As N-M, they also purchase Pinot Noir from Verzenay.
The Atoma is his very first release in 2025 – produced in a very small edition. One pallet for the entire German market. The pure Chardonnay comes from five Grands Crus (Avize, Cramant, Oger, Oiry, and Le Mesnil-sur-Oger) with about 50 percent from the current 2022 harvest and 50 percent reserve wines from the Réserve Perpétuelle (the reserve was started in 2020, all fermented in oak barrels and originating from the Montagne de Reims). Accordingly, it spent about 2.5 years on the lees, so not too long yet, but the project naturally has to start with the base. Future versions will likely spend a bit more time in the cellar.
The base wine is fermented and aged in a mix of oak barrels and stainless steel tanks. The dosage is under 5 g/l in the Extra Brut range, even though it is not labeled as such. Unlike his brother Pascal, Fabrice Agrapart represents a somewhat more extravagant style.
Agrapart-Avize is somewhat richer, more powerful, oxidative, and expressive – not as lean and minimalist as Agrapart. A very rich aroma of yellow citrus fruits, quince, grapefruit, lemon thyme, dark sesame. Intense and incredibly mineral on the palate, very gripping, robust, expansive, still crisp and lively on the tongue. Needs some time but is unmistakably a more expressive, tension-filled Grand Cru Chardonnay. A great debut – and clearly different from Pascal Agrapart in the old family domaine.
