Description

François Cotat’s Sancerre La Grande Côte, as its name suggests, comes from one of the steepest slopes in the entire Sancerre region. The wine first impresses with its rich and complex aromatic profile: notes of citrus, white flowers, and a hint of exotic fruit (mango). The mid-palate adds further richness with notes of candied lemon and pineapple. Minerality is ever-present. The concentration and power are matched only by the finesse and elegance. Add an incredible length on the finish and you have one of the greatest wines of the Sancerre region.

In the vineyard, in the cellar

François Cotat’s Sancerre La Grande Côte comes from vines aged almost 50 years, grown on a 1-hectare plot. South-facing, the vines rest on clay-limestone soil that imparts all the minerality of this cuvée. The estate favours minimal intervention: no fining, no filtration. The Sauvignon Blanc is harvested by hand and then fermented with its own yeasts before undergoing a gentle stirring at the end of fermentation. The wine is aged for eight months in 600-litre casks that are 6 to 8 years old.

The François Cotat Estate

Based at the family estate in Chavignol, Sancerre, since 1979, François Cotat has been running the family estate since 1998. It is one of the most sought-after estates among wine enthusiasts, with almost all of its wines being reserved from one year to the next. The 5 hectares are spread across some of Chavignol’s steepest slopes: Les Mont Damnés, La Grand Côte, Cul de Beaujeu and Les Caillottes.

François Cotat’s style is unique. He relies on late harvests with overripe grapes, yielding very ripe wines that are sometimes characterised by a slight residual sweetness, perfectly balanced by the vibrant power of the terroir. The wines are built for long ageing and can withstand the test of time for decades.

The method of cultivation and wine production is traditional to say the least, as evidenced by the spartan family cellar. The method has remained unchanged for ages: hand-harvesting, no added yeast, two rackings, no filtration, and early bottling before summer.

What to eat with a Sancerre La Grande Côte from François Cotat?

• Roasted turbot or John Dory
• Fish with hollandaise sauce
• Spiced leek fondue with pine nuts
• Salmon steak with mustard cream
• Prawn spring rolls
• Pork knuckle