Domaine Pascal Cotat DOMAINE PASCAL COTAT Sancerre La Grande Côte 2022

Description

From vines over 40 years old, on Kimmeridgean soils, Sancerre La Grande Côte 2022 by Pascal Cotat offers clear and precise lemon hints on the nose. Very complex and round on the palate, it is a very complex wine and truly impressive for its richness and precision. It is full of body, but also displays refreshing gooseberry aromas and reveals a savory finish, as well as excellent structure. Capable of challenging time.

Domaine Pascal Cotat is a small domaine of 2.5 hectares. True example of “vin de garage”, Pascal also being the owner of the local Peugeot garage in Sancerre! This domaine was born after the French government ruled that “independent producers” could no longer sell the same wine under two different labels. However, Pascal’s father and uncle had done just that, sharing the family vineyards and cellar to produce wines that they each sold under their own label. They decided to use this ruling as an opportunity to retire and hand over their inheritance to their respective sons Pascal and François, who have divided the vineyards and started their own labels. Recently, Pascal has further separated himself by building his new winery in Sancerre.

Pascal owns 2 Sauvignon Blanc vineyards in Chavignol (which is within the Sancerre AOC – some Chavignol producers have tried to get a separate mention in the AOC). Chavignol is indeed already famous as an AOC, but for the cheese – the “Crottin de Chavignol” is a goat’s cheese that can be found on beautiful cheese plates in all the best French restaurants and is one of the best pairings with Pascal wines.

The Grande Côte vineyard is a 60 year old, 1 hectare vineyard on a steep north facing slope (30%). The soils are very rich in clay. It is wholly owned by Pascal and François Cotat and the name has been registered as a trademark.

The Monts Damnés vineyard is a famous lieu-dit in Chavignol – some other renowned Sancerre producers also own some parcels within this vineyard. The land owned by Pascal is 1.5 hectares in the highest grounds, also facing north, and the vines are approximately 35 years old.

Pascal uses a very modern pneumatic press and presses the whole bunches without destemming. The must is then transferred by gravity for debourbage into a stainless steel tank and then into 50 year old demi muidi (600L) for fermentation.