Saving The Best For Last
2008 Agrapart Blanc de Blancs Vénus Brut Nature
"In a vintage that is sure to yield many great wines, this is still a standout." -Peter Liem
For almost a year, we've been beating the drum for Agrapart's 2008s. The reason is simple: it's an absolutely stunning cast of wines. You taste them and it's impossible not to get excited.
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Just to get this out of the way, there was no grand strategy in saving the 2008 Vénus for last. It's just so rare that accumulating enough wine for an offer has taken time. These are the only bottles of Vénus available in the U.S.
Vénus comes from La Fosse, one of Agrapart's top parcels, which was planted in 1959 and is composed of chalky soils. The site is plowed by horse instead of tractor (Vénus is the name of the first horse.) Consistently, Vénus shows a nuance, depth and precision that makes it Agrapart's top wine.
Agrapart's are some of the most refined Chardonnays to be found in the Côte des Blancs. For all of their class and impeccable breeding, they also come across as undeniably honest expressions of terroir. The differences between their Minéral, L’Avizoise and Vénus cuvées are striking. In the case of Vénus, it's laser in its focus and yet it's profoundly complex with subtle stone fruits, mineral and floral notes seamlessly intermingling. Peter Liem sums up the 2008 perfectly when he writes about the "palate-staining intensity and a jewel-like precision."
In 2008, Vénus is simply epic. 2008 is one of the great vintages of the past decade. It's defined by energy, length and clarity. All of these qualities played right into Agrapart's style. It's impossible not to take notice. As good as 2008s are generally, Agrapart's success clearly outpaces all but a very select group of its peers.
Before wrapping up, I should mention that we have a very limited amount of Vénus. It's taken me a long-time to amass this modest amount. I'm willing to bet that this is both a one-shot chance and something that I'll be allocating this evening.
To order, please email us at offers@crushwineco.com or call the store at (212) 980-9463.
Ian McFadden
Director, Fine & Rare Wine
Crush Wine & Spirits
2008 Agrapart Blanc de Blancs
Vénus Brut Nature