{"id":1150,"date":"2015-12-28T10:19:41","date_gmt":"2015-12-28T10:19:41","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/dev.northberkeleyimports.com\/?post_type=project&p=1150"},"modified":"2024-08-27T15:19:12","modified_gmt":"2024-08-27T15:19:12","slug":"domaine-francois-cotat","status":"publish","type":"project","link":"https:\/\/www.northberkeleyimports.com\/wordpress\/project\/domaine-francois-cotat\/","title":{"rendered":"Domaine Fran\u00e7ois Cotat"},"content":{"rendered":"

[et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ fullwidth=”on” admin_label=”section” _builder_version=”4.16″ global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_fullwidth_header title=”Domaine Fran\u00e7ois Cotat” subhead=”Chavignol | Loire Valley” text_orientation=”center” background_overlay_color=”rgba(0,0,0,0.25)” _builder_version=”4.16″ title_font_size=”50″ subhead_font_size=”20px” background_color=”rgba(255, 255, 255, 0)” background_image=”http:\/\/dev.northberkeleyimports.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/12\/loire_header.jpg” max_width_tablet=”50px” global_colors_info=”{}” button_one_text_size__hover_enabled=”off” button_two_text_size__hover_enabled=”off” button_one_text_color__hover_enabled=”off” button_two_text_color__hover_enabled=”off” button_one_border_width__hover_enabled=”off” button_two_border_width__hover_enabled=”off” button_one_border_color__hover_enabled=”off” button_two_border_color__hover_enabled=”off” button_one_border_radius__hover_enabled=”off” button_two_border_radius__hover_enabled=”off” button_one_letter_spacing__hover_enabled=”off” button_two_letter_spacing__hover_enabled=”off” button_one_bg_color__hover_enabled=”off” button_two_bg_color__hover_enabled=”off”][\/et_pb_fullwidth_header][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ admin_label=”section” _builder_version=”4.16″ global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_row padding_mobile=”off” make_equal=”on” column_padding_mobile=”on” admin_label=”row” module_class=” et_pb_row_fullwidth” _builder_version=”4.16″ background_color=”#fcf4de” background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” width=”100%” width_tablet=”100%” width_phone=”100%” width_last_edited=”on|desktop” max_width=”100%” max_width_tablet=”100%” max_width_phone=”100%” max_width_last_edited=”on|desktop” make_fullwidth=”on” use_custom_width=”off” width_unit=”on” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”|2% ||2% ” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_text admin_label=”USP” _builder_version=”4.16″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” text_orientation=”justified” custom_margin=”|2%||2%” use_border_color=”off” border_color=”#ffffff” border_style=”solid” global_colors_info=”{}”]\"francois_cotat_producer\"<\/a>Sancerre from Fran\u00e7ois Cotat<\/strong> is simply some of the most singular Sauvignon Blanc in the world. Devotees can tell you that what happens in this modest cellar in Chavignol is one part winemaking, three parts magic. Atypical yet arresting in their complexity, Cotat Sancerre is wine that can and should be aged for decades.<\/p>\n

The Cotat family has tended both Sauvignon Blanc and Pinot Noir on the slopes of the fabled \u201cMonts Damn\u00e9s\u201d in Chavignol since the end of World War II; it was only in the 1990s when the two Cotat brothers, Paul and Francis, handed over the family domaine to their sons, Fran\u00e7ois and Pascal, respectively.<\/p>\n

Today there are two wineries\u2014one in Chavignol, headed by Fran\u00e7ois Cotat, and one in Sancerre, run by Pascal Cotat<\/a>\u2014yet both cousins craft wines from older Sauvignon Blanc vines located in Chavignol\u2019s most-prized vineyards.
\n[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row column_structure=”2_3,1_3″ padding_mobile=”off” make_equal=”on” admin_label=”row” module_class=” et_pb_row_fullwidth” _builder_version=”4.16″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” width=”89%” width_tablet=”80%” width_phone=”80%” width_last_edited=”on|desktop” max_width=”89%” max_width_tablet=”80%” max_width_phone=”80%” max_width_last_edited=”on|desktop” make_fullwidth=”on” use_custom_width=”off” width_unit=”on” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”2_3″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”|||” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.16″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” custom_padding=”5%|5%|5%|5%” border_width_all=”1px” border_color_all=”#d46d32″ use_border_color=”on” global_colors_info=”{}”]FARMING & WINEMAKING<\/strong><\/p>\n

Located in the western portion of the Sancerre appellation, Chavignol has a unique type of soil called, in French, \u201cterres blanches.\u201d The region is essentially a chalk plateau (the same vein as is found in Chablis) with clay and limestone soils. The top vineyards, \u2018Monts Damn\u00e9s,\u2019 \u2018Grande C\u00f4te,\u2019 and \u2018Les Culs de Beaujeu,\u2019 are perched on incredibly steep hillsides with very little topsoil.<\/p>\n

Cotat as a rule harvests by hand and very late, as pushing ripeness to the extreme is one element that gives these wines their weighty texture and complexity. While Cotat is not organically certified, his habits are more or less according to organic principles. He does not treat his vines with pesticides; uses only indigenous yeasts for fermentation; and follows the lunar cycle for racking. Wines are barrel-fermented in older demi-muids and aged in larger tonneaux. All wines are unfined and unfiltered.
\n[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text admin_label=”WHITE WINES” _builder_version=”4.16″ text_font=”|on|||” text_text_color=”#ffffff” text_font_size=”16″ background_color=”#d46d32″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” background_layout=”dark” custom_padding=”2%|5%|2%|5%” use_border_color=”off” border_color=”#ffffff” border_style=”solid” global_colors_info=”{}”]WHITE WINES
\n[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_toggle title=”Sancerre Blanc ‘Caillottes'” admin_label=”Sancerre Blanc ‘Caillottes'” _builder_version=”4.18.0″ title_font=”|on|||” title_font_size=”14″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” custom_padding=”|5%||5%” use_border_color=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n

\u2018Caillottes\u2019 means little stones. This vineyard (a flatter area, due east of the slope where the \u2018Monts Damn\u00e9s’ vineyard is found), with its thin limestone soils, is planted to young vines. Zesty notes of lime and white pepper; sweet yellow fruit. A more “approachable,” early drinking Cotat that nonetheless captures the depth and persistence of the Cotat style.<\/p>\n

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