Francois Cotat Sancerre Les Monts Damnes 2022
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François Cotat produces idiosyncratic, complex, and age-worthy Sancerres from his tiny three-hectare estate. It sits at the heart of the prized Chavignol commune, which lies on Kimmeridgian clay and Caillotte soils. The steep slopes (in the vineyards of Les Monts Damnés, Le Cul de Beaujeu, and La Grande Côte) make cultivation arduous and must be done entirely by hand. The grapes are late-picked for maximum flavour, and in the winery, François adopts a very traditional, non-interventionist approach, barrel-fermenting the juice in old demi-muids using natural yeasts. At times, François' wines have had to be declassified to "simple" Vin de Table status due to a higher level of residual sugar or alcohol than the appellation's rules permit or simply because the local committee finds them too atypical. François racks according to the phases of the moon. The wines develop with age and, in the best vintages, can be cellared for more than 50 years.
This is the defining site of Sancerre, and akin to a grand cru in the appellation. It is the steep slope that runs the length of the Chavignol village and its south-facing aspect and terres blanches soils produce the appellation’s most powerful and long-lived wines. François’s wine perfectly captures the power and finesse of this great site, with statuesque poise.
Weather in 2022: Heralded by many producers as one of the best vintages of the decade, this warm, sunny year resulted in perfectly healthy fruit with excellent balance. August rain brought relief from periods of extreme heat and drought, refreshing grapes just before the trouble-free harvest. Volumes vary, based on which vineyards were plagued by spring frosts, but many vintners report high volumes at top quality. Whites and reds achieved good concentration, but alcohols are not too high; acidities are high across the board, making for supremely balanced wines built to age.
Technical Information:
Grape: 100% Sauvignon Blanc
Region: France | Loire Valley | Sancerre
Winemaker: Francois Cotat
Alcohol: 13 %
Closure: Cork
Drink: Now to 5 Years+
Tasting Note: A powerful wine, with notes of white fruits and white truffle. This solar wine is incisive and mineralesque, smooth and chiselled.
This is the defining site of Sancerre, and akin to a grand cru in the appellation. It is the steep slope that runs the length of the Chavignol village and its south-facing aspect and terres blanches soils produce the appellation’s most powerful and long-lived wines. François’s wine perfectly captures the power and finesse of this great site, with statuesque poise.
Weather in 2022: Heralded by many producers as one of the best vintages of the decade, this warm, sunny year resulted in perfectly healthy fruit with excellent balance. August rain brought relief from periods of extreme heat and drought, refreshing grapes just before the trouble-free harvest. Volumes vary, based on which vineyards were plagued by spring frosts, but many vintners report high volumes at top quality. Whites and reds achieved good concentration, but alcohols are not too high; acidities are high across the board, making for supremely balanced wines built to age.
Technical Information:
Grape: 100% Sauvignon Blanc
Region: France | Loire Valley | Sancerre
Winemaker: Francois Cotat
Alcohol: 13 %
Closure: Cork
Drink: Now to 5 Years+
Tasting Note: A powerful wine, with notes of white fruits and white truffle. This solar wine is incisive and mineralesque, smooth and chiselled.
