Pascal Cotat Sancerre La Grande Côte 2020

The venerable Cotat estate in Sancerre holds vineyards in the top-rated village of Chavignol, making tiny quantities of unforgettable wines. In fact, these wines are so distinctive that certain vintages were forbidden from using the Sancerre appellation, as they were deemed “atypical” for Sancerre. Regardless of whether they are called Sancerre or not, they are certainly outstanding in quality, exhibiting a perfect balance between fruit, minerality and acidity. Today they are recognized as one of the top producers in all of Sancerre (if not the very best). From 1947 until the early 1990’s, the Cotat family, under the direction of brothers Francis and Paul, made a single cuvée in one cellar for each of their brothers designated wines, but bottled it under two separate labels. Upon retiring, the Cotat brothers turned their vineyards over to each of their sons, Francis’s son Pascal and Paul’s son François. Today the cousins produce their wines in separate cellars, but each still practices the same traditional winemaking techniques mastered by their fathers.

Made of 100% Sauvignon Blanc from the famed single-vineyard in Chavignol and a monopole for the Cotat cousins. Their vines are south facing, with very thin topsoils on a very steep slope with kimmeridgian limestone. The vines are 45+ years old and made with indigenous yeasts and fermented in very old demi-muids and aged in old barrels. Unfined and unfiltered.