Description
François Cotat’s Sancerre Les Monts Damnés impresses with its richness and concentration. These qualities are, however, perfectly balanced by a striking limestone minerality that lends it tension and a crystalline profile. A legendary terroir from Chavignol that requires long ageing.
In the vineyard, in the cellar
François Cotat’s Sancerre Les Monts Damnés cuvée comes from vines over 35 years old. These are cultivated using sustainable methods with soil cultivation, and the grapes are harvested by hand. The wine, which is neither filtered nor fined, displays beautiful maturity, complemented by successful ageing in old barrels.
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: 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 Les Monts Damnés by 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 shank
