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2010 Francois Cotat Sancerre
“...I shook my head in wonderment as to why so few Sancerre producers made wines such as these... ”
—The Wine Advocate

Few bottles capture the delicious mystery of winemaking more eloquently than do those of François Cotat.  What you will find here is more than fine wine—the name Cotat for generations has been the herald of Sancerre done differently, extraordinary wine with mindboggling depth, stunning complexity and an uncanny ability to age.  

While we have been visiting Francois’ cellars for nearly two decades, we are especially excited about 2010—this is a vintage that effortlessly combines the laser-cut minerality of Chavignol’s chalky soils, the crisp, balanced acidity of the vintage and the savory complexity of the Cotat house style.  

The following selections are wines harvested by hand at the moment of perfect ripeness, fermented on natural yeasts and aged in ancient barrique—and then bottled unfined and unfiltered to ensure every bit of flavor and purity cultivated in the vineyard finds its way into each rare bottle. LIMITED.

Sunday, October 23, 2011


Francois Cotat Sancerre Rosé 2010
Francois Cotat Sancerre Rosé 2010
France / Loire Valley
Rose petals and red berries offer rich perfumes; the mouth is pure and mineral, with great definition and suggestions of citrus zest. Notes of raspberries and ginger combine with currants and chalk dust, the signature of the region’s chalky Kimmeridgian soils, on the mouth. Pinot Noir with a scant amount of Gamay from vines planted before 1934 (appellation rules allow the addition only for the oldest vines).
Call 1-800-266-6585 to inquire.

Francois Cotat Sancerre Caillottes 2010
Francois Cotat Sancerre Caillottes 2010
France / Loire Valley
Meyer lemon, fresh ginger and white pepper perfumes dominate; the mouth is equally defined yet is made rich with a sensation of silky, full-bodied white fruits. Ginger and more pepper give the long finish an invigorating kick. Francois has been vinifing “Caillottes” separately since 2005; the vineyard name refers to a type of soil found in Sancerre—very rocky and chalky.
Call 1-800-266-6585 to inquire.

Francois Cotat Sancerre Le Culs de Beaujeu 2010
Francois Cotat Sancerre Le Culs de Beaujeu 2010
France / Loire Valley
The terroir of “Culs de Beaujeu” blends clay and chalk for a Sancerre that delivers more texture and supple fruit in the mouth. The nose is sultry and deep, with smoky incense notes; richly cut and seductive, the mouth shows ripe white fruits with lots of citrus influence, candied, fresh and dried.
Call 1-800-266-6585 to inquire.

Francois Cotat Sancerre Les Monts Damnes 2010
Francois Cotat Sancerre Les Monts Damnes 2010
France / Loire Valley
These “damned mountains” are so named for their steepness and challenge in harvesting. (The family invented a system where one slides down the hill on a cushion, picking grapes as you go.) The most chalky and chiseled of François’ Sancerres. An understated, spicy nose of wildflowers and pepper makes way for a salty, citrus-inspired mouth, suggesting candied lemons, poached white fruits and energetic pepper. Always the cornerstone of the Cotat canon, this is a classic “Monts Damnés” and one with a generous cellar life ahead.
Call 1-800-266-6585 to inquire.

Francois Cotat Sancerre La Grande Côte 2010
Francois Cotat Sancerre La Grande Côte 2010
France / Loire Valley
The cooler vineyard site (with its older, 40+ year old vines) of “Grand Côte” is the last to be harvested of all Francois’ small parcels; it delivers fruit that is incredibly precise and yet deeply complex in flavor. A very floral nose, with herbs and honeysuckle, reveals a vibrant, energetic mouth of pure minerals and juice inspired by the wine’s “terre blanche,” or chalk soils. Bright, driven and refreshing.
Call 1-800-266-6585 to inquire.