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About the producer
François Cotat produces idiosyncratic, complex and age worthy Sancerre from his tiny 3ha estate at the heart of the prized Chavignol commune, which lies on Kimmeridgian clay and Caillotte soils.
Such is the steepness of the slopes means that cultivation is arduous and must be done entirely by hand. The grapes are picked late for maximum flavour and François adopts a very traditional, non-interventionist approach in the winery, barrel-fermenting the juice in old demi-muids using natural yeasts.
At times, François's wines have had to be declassified to Vin de Table status due to a higher level of residual sugar or alcohol than the appellation's rules permit, or simply because the local committee find them too atypical.
François racks according to the phases of the moon and the wines develop with age and, in the best vintages, can be cellared for more than 50 years.
Vineyard
The tiny 3ha estate is at the heart of the prized Chavignol commune, which lies on Kimmeridgian clay and Caillotte soils. The steepness of the slopes (in the vineyards of Les Monts Damnés, Le Cul de Beaujeu and La Grande Côte) requires cultivation to be carried out entirely by hand.
Winery
François adopts a very traditional, non-interventionist approach in the winery, barrel-fermenting the juice in old demi-muids using natural yeasts and racks his wines according to the phases of the moon.