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Buy Wine from François Cotat
Domaine François Cotat is located in Chavignol, a small village in the Sancerre region of the Loire Valley in France. The Cotat family has been growing grapes in this region since the end of the Second World War, specifically on the slopes of the famous "Monts Damnés" vineyard.
It was in the 1990s that Paul and Francis Cotat, members of the family's second generation of winemakers, passed control of the winery to their sons, François and Pascal. From then on, the family split into two wineries: François Cotat, who continued to work in Chavignol, and Pascal, who established his own winery in Sancerre.François Cotat has distinguished himself in the production of Sauvignon Blanc wines and a small production of Pinot Noir. The uniqueness of these wines, considered by many as magical for their complexity and longevity, is their ability to evolve over decades, which makes them unique in their category. Despite being separated, both François and Pascal produce wines from the same old vines, located in the best vineyards of Chavignol.
Vineyards
François Cotat 's vineyards are located in the western part of the Sancerre appellation, within the Chavignol region. One of the key characteristics of this area is its unique soil, known as"terres blanches", a mixture of chalk, clay and limestone also found in the Chablis region. These soils give Cotat wines their renowned minerality. Among the most important vineyards the family farms are Monts Damnés, Grande Côte and Les Culs de Beaujeu, all located on steep slopes with very little topsoil, which forces the vines to struggle for nutrients, resulting in wines of great concentration and character.
Cotat has approximately 3 hectares of vineyards. The climate in this region is cool, with mild summers and mild autumns, which favours slow ripening of the grapes, a key factor in the production of complex, long-aged wines.
Philosophy
François Cotat 's winemaking philosophy is based on a deep respect for tradition and nature. Although not officially certified, Cotat practices practically organic agriculture. He does not use pesticides in his vineyards and uses only indigenous yeasts for fermentation. In addition, it follows the lunar cycle for the wine racking process, a technique it has maintained since its predecessors.
The wines are fermented in demi-muids, which are large-capacity wooden barrels, and then aged in larger foudres. Cotat avoids the use of fining and filtration techniques, allowing the wines to retain their purity and structure. One of the keys to the success of his wines is late harvesting, which allows the grapes to reach their maximum ripeness, giving his wines a dense and complex texture, which is not common in most Sancerre wines.
François Cotat firmly believes in creating wines that can age for decades, allowing their characteristics to evolve and flourish over time. This philosophy contrasts with the modern trend of producing ready-to-drink wines soon after harvest.
Cotat wines are vinified in a traditional and meticulous manner. After late manual harvesting, the grapes are pressed and fermented in old wooden barrels that can be more than 50 years old. This process imparts a distinctive character to the wines, as the barrels do not add new oak flavours, but allow the wines to fully express their terroir. Fermentation is carried out without temperature control and added sugar (chaptalisation) is used only when absolutely necessary, something Cotat has done less often due to global warming.
After fermentation, the wines are racked according to the lunar cycle and aged until ready for bottling, always without fining or filtration. This approach allows the wines to maintain their natural structure and longevity.
François Cotat wines are known for their complexity and ageing capacity, with a slow evolution that makes them true wines for cellaring. Among his main productions are Sancerre Blanc from parcels such as Les Monts Damnés, Les Culs de Beaujeu, La Grande Côte, as well as a Sancerre Rosé made from Pinot Noir. He also produces a red wine under the Vin de France appellation, because the rules of the Sancerre appellation are not always adapted to the characteristics of his red wines.
In short, François Cotat remains a custodian of Chavignol's ancient winemaking traditions, maintaining a firm commitment to making wines that express the true character of their terroir, made using techniques that respect both the land and the history of the region.
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Buy Wine from François Cotat
Domaine François Cotat is located in Chavignol, a small village in the Sancerre region of the Loire Valley in France. The Cotat family has been growing grapes in this region since the end of the Second World War, specifically on the slopes of the famous "Monts Damnés" vineyard.
It was in the 1990s that Paul and Francis Cotat, members of the family's second generation of winemakers, passed control of the winery to their sons, François and Pascal. From then on, the family split into two wineries: François Cotat, who continued to work in Chavignol, and Pascal, who established his own winery in Sancerre.François Cotat has distinguished himself in the production of Sauvignon Blanc wines and a small production of Pinot Noir. The uniqueness of these wines, considered by many as magical for their complexity and longevity, is their ability to evolve over decades, which makes them unique in their category. Despite being separated, both François and Pascal produce wines from the same old vines, located in the best vineyards of Chavignol.
Vineyards
François Cotat 's vineyards are located in the western part of the Sancerre appellation, within the Chavignol region. One of the key characteristics of this area is its unique soil, known as"terres blanches", a mixture of chalk, clay and limestone also found in the Chablis region. These soils give Cotat wines their renowned minerality. Among the most important vineyards the family farms are Monts Damnés, Grande Côte and Les Culs de Beaujeu, all located on steep slopes with very little topsoil, which forces the vines to struggle for nutrients, resulting in wines of great concentration and character.
Cotat has approximately 3 hectares of vineyards. The climate in this region is cool, with mild summers and mild autumns, which favours slow ripening of the grapes, a key factor in the production of complex, long-aged wines.
Philosophy
François Cotat 's winemaking philosophy is based on a deep respect for tradition and nature. Although not officially certified, Cotat practices practically organic agriculture. He does not use pesticides in his vineyards and uses only indigenous yeasts for fermentation. In addition, it follows the lunar cycle for the wine racking process, a technique it has maintained since its predecessors.
The wines are fermented in demi-muids, which are large-capacity wooden barrels, and then aged in larger foudres. Cotat avoids the use of fining and filtration techniques, allowing the wines to retain their purity and structure. One of the keys to the success of his wines is late harvesting, which allows the grapes to reach their maximum ripeness, giving his wines a dense and complex texture, which is not common in most Sancerre wines.
François Cotat firmly believes in creating wines that can age for decades, allowing their characteristics to evolve and flourish over time. This philosophy contrasts with the modern trend of producing ready-to-drink wines soon after harvest.
Cotat wines are vinified in a traditional and meticulous manner. After late manual harvesting, the grapes are pressed and fermented in old wooden barrels that can be more than 50 years old. This process imparts a distinctive character to the wines, as the barrels do not add new oak flavours, but allow the wines to fully express their terroir. Fermentation is carried out without temperature control and added sugar (chaptalisation) is used only when absolutely necessary, something Cotat has done less often due to global warming.
After fermentation, the wines are racked according to the lunar cycle and aged until ready for bottling, always without fining or filtration. This approach allows the wines to maintain their natural structure and longevity.
François Cotat wines are known for their complexity and ageing capacity, with a slow evolution that makes them true wines for cellaring. Among his main productions are Sancerre Blanc from parcels such as Les Monts Damnés, Les Culs de Beaujeu, La Grande Côte, as well as a Sancerre Rosé made from Pinot Noir. He also produces a red wine under the Vin de France appellation, because the rules of the Sancerre appellation are not always adapted to the characteristics of his red wines.
In short, François Cotat remains a custodian of Chavignol's ancient winemaking traditions, maintaining a firm commitment to making wines that express the true character of their terroir, made using techniques that respect both the land and the history of the region.