Cousins Pascal and Francois Cotat are often considered the greatest domaines in Sancerre. Like Boulay, they work principally with the Kimmeridgian limestone soils of Chvavignol. But Cotat wines are very unique; these are incredibly voluptuous, concentrated Sancerres that demand 5 years or more before they are truly ready. And they last and last. While there's plenty of tingling acid and herbaceous accent in these wines, these are defined by layers of ripe fruit and muscular structures. Really, no other Sancerres are so opulent, and the power is shocking the first time you taste them. And no other producers can pack Kimmeridgian minerality (which is, while quite stony, almost redolent of oyster shells and shrimp tails) quite as densely as the Cotats can. Between the cousins there are subtle differences. Pascal tends to make the more powerful wines (he has the older vines), while Francois' are more elegant, but it would be easy to confuse one for the other in a blind tasting.
Professional Reviews
Antonio Galloni
What importer Skurnik Wines has to say about this wine...
100% Pinot NoirFrom a 0.4 ha parcel in ChavignolStony soil with limestone and clay30+ year old vinesIndigenous yeastFermented in very old demi-muids and aged in old barrelsUnfined and unfiltered
Details
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Grape Variety
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Vintage
2022
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Size
750ml
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Farming Practice
Organic
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Sweetness
Dry
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Body
Medium Bodied
Loire Valley Wines
The Loire Valley is France’s greatest source of value for anyone looking for elegant, terroir-driven wines. Our collection celebrates the region’s great diversity, with the mineral-driven whites of Muscadet and Sancerre, the beautiful Chenin Blancs and Cabernet Francs from villages like Vouvray and Chinon, and natural wines from everywhere in the region. Sometimes wonderfully fresh and gulpable, sometimes serious and age-worthy, the prices are always very reasonable.
