2023 Sancerre 'Les Monts Damnés', François Cotat

From a plot just over 1 hectare in size in Les Monts Damnés, the imposing sweep of vineyards that look down driectly upon Chavignol. This has a deeper tone and pitch than the 'Caillotes' and perhaps a touch more concentration. François’s Monts Damnés is clearly the best example of this famous Cru. Reflecting the excellent vintage, this wine is cool and compact, a taut, tightly coiled core of briny minerality; such tension, and exquisite balance. Superb and needs time, plenty of time. A rare and iconic wine in the Loire and for good reason There are three things that define François Cotat’s wines. Firstly the superb Kimmeridgean terroir around the famed village of Chavignol and specifically it’s vertiginously steep vineyard, Les Monts Damnés. Secondly, his vineyards are planted at a density of 8000 vines per hectare – higher than the more normal average of 6000 vines per hectare & with average yields of 45 hl/ha, far lower than Sancerre’s ‘rendement de base’ of 65 hl/ha. Thirdly, that he is often the last to harvest, sometimes a week later than his peers and this, combined with his meagre yields, provides sublime and incomparable quality.