The Estate
The story of Domaine François Cotat is deeply rooted in family tradition in Chavignol, the emblematic village of the Sancerre appellation. For several generations, the Cotat family has been shaping wines of great singularity, passed down from father to son. François took over the family vines in the 1990s, continuing the work initiated by his father and uncle, with the aim of respecting the identity of the terroirs and producing timeless cuvées.
François Cotat’s vines are located on some of the finest slopes of Chavignol, including the renowned parcels of Monts Damnés, Culs de Beaujeu and La Grande Côte. These steep slopes, with their Kimmeridgian marl soils, provide the perfect exposure and depth to give birth to wines of rare intensity. Vineyard work is carried out by hand, with artisanal methods that respect the living environment and the natural balance of the soils, without resorting to modern artifices.
Today, François Cotat is recognized as one of the great masters of Sancerre. His wines, crafted with jeweler-like precision and vinified in a traditional way (gentle pressings, long fermentations, ageing in old barrels), evolve beautifully with time, showing remarkable elegance and longevity. Produced in very limited quantities, his cuvées are highly sought after worldwide for their depth and their pure expression of Chavignol’s unique identity.
The Wine
The vines of the Monts Damnés are hand-cultivated on extremely steep slopes with Kimmeridgian marl soils, offering a demanding terroir but one of exceptional richness. The winemaking, carried out with long and natural fermentations, allows for the full complexity and minerality of this emblematic vintage to be revealed.
Tasting
Le Monts Damnés by François Cotat reveals an intense nose blending ripe citrus, white-fleshed fruits, and a chalky minerality typical of Chavignol. On the palate, the texture is ample and silky, balanced by a saline tension and a chiseled acidity that impart energy and precision. The finish, long and persistent, leaves an elegant imprint of flint and citrus zest.
