2023 Domaine Francois Cotat, Les Monts Damnes, Sancerre

Domaine François Cotat – Iconic Sancerre from Chavignol

Domaine François Cotat in Chavignol produces some of the most distinctive and age-worthy Sancerre in the Loire Valley. Since the 1940s, the Cotat family has cultivated Sauvignon Blanc and Pinot Noir on the steep slopes of Chavignol’s legendary vineyards, including Les Monts Damnés, La Grande Côte, and Les Culs de Beaujeu. Today, François Cotat carries on the family tradition, crafting wines that stand apart for their depth, complexity, and extraordinary longevity.

Working with terres blanches soil Kimmeridgian limestone and clay also found in Chablis François harvests by hand and always late, pushing ripeness to achieve remarkable texture and intensity. Farming is guided by organic principles, with no pesticides, only native yeast fermentations, and lunar cycles followed for racking. In the cellar, he employs the méthode ancienne: very low yields, fermentation in old demi-muids, aging in large foudres, and bottling without filtration.

The results are powerful yet precise Sancerres that reward long aging, often for decades. Alongside his benchmark white wines, François also produces an exceptional rosé from Pinot Noir and a rare Chavignol Rouge, both of which reflect the same chalky minerality and timeless style.

Domaine François Cotat’s wines are revered worldwide for their singular character, profound expression of terroir, and their ability to evolve into some of the Loire’s most captivating bottles. These are reference-point Sancerres rich, complex, and unforgettable.