2025 Francois Cotat, Sancerre, Monts Damnes

Domaine François Cotat operates out of the village of Chavignol, where the family has tended vines since the end of World War II. This wine is sourced from the steep, south-facing slopes of the Monts Damnés vineyard, a site defined by its thin topsoil and Kimmeridgian limestone—the same "terres blanches" chalk found in Chablis. The wine offers focused aromas of yellow stone fruit, citrus, and crushed stone, carrying a weighty, textured mouthfeel that reflects the estate's tradition of late harvesting. The 2025 vintage provided favorable conditions, resulting in a balanced, expressive profile that captures both the intensity of the site and the region’s characteristic freshness. Built for the cellar, this is an investment in longevity that will gain further complexity with a decade or more of patience.