Pascal Cotat, Sancerre La Grande Cote 2022

Description

About the Producer

Pascal Cotat is one of the main domains in Sancerre, producing traditionally-styled oak-aged wines. The two vineyards, Les Monts Damnés and La Grande Côte, are located east of the town of Sancerre in Chavignol. These wines effortlessly age for decades and combine luxurious richness with laser-like precision and energy. Production from the 2.5-hectare vineyard is extremely limited and highly sought-after by sommeliers and private collectors. Cotat Sancerre is one of the world's most distinctive expressions of Sauvignon Blanc, and Pascal is also the owner of the iconic garage in Sancerre. The domain was created after the French government ruled in the 1990s that "independent producers" could no longer sell the same wine under two different labels. Pascal's father, Francis Cotat, and uncle, Paul Cotat, had been doing just that since 1947, sharing the family's vineyard and winery and producing wine to sell under their respective labels. They decided to use this ruling as an opportunity to retire and passed the torch to their respective sons, Pascal and François, who divided up the vineyard. Cotat typically hand-harvests and quite late, as pushing ripeness to the limit is one factor that lends these wines their heavyweight texture and complexity. While Cotat is not certified organic, his practices are more or less in line with organic principles. He doesn't treat his vines with pesticides; uses only native yeasts for fermentation; and follows lunar cycles for pruning.