François Cotat
About François Cotat
François Cotat’s vines are located in the hallowed village of Chavignol on the legendary Mont Damnés, where the chalky and mineral soils and steep slopes already give him a leg up in terms of terroir. The Domaine was founded in the 1940s by brothers Francis and Paul Cotat, who bottled just a single cuvée. When they retired in the 1990s, they handed over the Domaine to their sons François and Pascal.
François eschews modern technology, preferring a hands-off and minimalist approach. While not certified organic, François’s practices align with organic viticulture. Often the last to harvest, François relies on indigenous yeasts for fermentation, avoids pesticides and doesn’t filter his wines, resulting in wines with very rich and refined structure. François’s wines have been known to be declassified in some vintages because the local committee finds them too atypical of Sancerre!
“As Cotat makes only 30,000 bottles a year, his Sancerres have become cult sauvignon blancs that few people will ever have the opportunity to taste.” – Joel B. Payne (Vinous)

Product Name | Region | Qty | Score | Price | |||||
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|
Loire | 1 | - |
Inc. VAT
£4,221.60 |
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|
Loire | 1 | - |
Inc. VAT
£123.85 |
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|
Loire | 1 | - |
Inc. VAT
£109.45 |
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|
Loire | 1 | 92 (JD) |
Inc. VAT
£173.21 |
|||||
Jeb Dunnuck (92)The 2018 Sancerre la Grande Cote is terrific, displaying a racy, white grapefruit and mineral-laced bouquet as well a medium-bodied, nicely textured, layered profile on the palate. It has a solid mix of both racy acidity and ripe, concentrated fruit, has a clean, crisp finish, and is an outstanding Sancerre. |
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|
Loire | 1 | 92 (JD) |
Inc. VAT
£89.60 |
|||||
Jeb Dunnuck (92)The 2018 Sancerre la Grande Cote is terrific, displaying a racy, white grapefruit and mineral-laced bouquet as well a medium-bodied, nicely textured, layered profile on the palate. It has a solid mix of both racy acidity and ripe, concentrated fruit, has a clean, crisp finish, and is an outstanding Sancerre. |
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|
Loire | 1 | - |
Inc. VAT
£87.85 |
|||||
|
Loire | 1 | 94 (VN) |
Inc. VAT
£92.65 |
|||||
Vinous (94)The 2020 Sancerre La Grande Côte is a fine wine with a piercing nose of floral and flint. While it may be dry, it offers a sensation of sweet fruit and high alcohol (14.5%), which Cotat compares to the ripe 2009 and 1990 vintages. Being late-picked and on a south slope, these grapes get ripe, and in this vintage, I can't help but think that the balance has been slightly knocked by this ripeness. That said, it offers delectable texture and sinew and remains an impressive wine. Tasting the 2009 Cul de Beaujeu soon after, high alcohol (15%) remains evident with bottle age. |
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|
Loire | 1 | - |
Inc. VAT
£786.58 |
|||||
|
Loire | 1 | - |
Inc. VAT
£149.05 |
|||||
|
Loire | 1 | - |
Inc. VAT
£121.45 |
|||||
|
Loire | 1 | 94 (VN) |
Inc. VAT
£87.85 |
|||||
Vinous (94)There's a gentleness to the 2020 Sancerre Caillotttes and a sensation of sweetness despite its evidently being a dry white. Open, seductive and textural, it offers delightful floral characters and ripe fruit. There's a touch of alcoholic warmth on the finish, but that’s nitpicking. |
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|
Loire | 1 | - |
Inc. VAT
£104.65 |
|||||
|
Loire | 1 | 95 (VN) |
Inc. VAT
£469.49 |
|||||
Vinous (95)An idiosyncratic, intriguing wine that is about as far from standard Sancerre as you'll get, and for that, Cotat will be relieved. The 2019 Sancerre Culs de Beaujeu has great concentration, and the gentle handling translates into delicacy of fruit. However, it’s far from a fruity wine; you'll find floral notes, an iodine-like character and nutty nuances (old barrels, including large formats, are preferred). It retains a sense of freshness and an almost briny essence on the long finish. |
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|
Loire | 1 | - |
Inc. VAT
£123.20 |
|||||
|
Loire | 1 | - |
Inc. VAT
£766.18 |
|||||
|
Loire | 1 | - |
Inc. VAT
£112.40 |
|||||
|
Loire | 1 | - |
Inc. VAT
£92.00 |
|||||
|
Loire | 1 | 96-97 (VN) |
Inc. VAT
£119.05 |
|||||
Vinous (96-97)A pure and refined expression with intense concentration and laser-like precision. If you're looking for stereotypical Sauvignon fruit, go elsewhere, as the 2019 Sancerre Monts Damnés is a wine that's all about delicacy and structure. While there's a sense of richness on the mid-palate, a rod of acidity runs through the wine, providing a mouthwatering stream of freshness. There is loads of structure here, holding the wine together. Balanced, with a briny character on the long finish. |
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|
Loire | 1 | 92 (VN) |
Inc. VAT
£161.60 |
|||||
Vinous (92)While the 2021 Sancerre Les Monts Damnés is a light bodied wine with a sense of roundness at first, there's no mistaking this is a forceful, grippy style. In its youth, it remains relatively restrained with a touch of green jalapeño and herbs reflecting the cooler season, as well as an almost spicy and salty edge. A little more fleeting than expected. |
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|
Loire | 2 | - |
Inc. VAT
£800.98 |
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|
Loire | 1 | - |
Inc. VAT
£118.40 |
|||||
|
Loire | 2 | - |
Inc. VAT
£339.64 |
|||||
|
Loire | 1 | - |
Inc. VAT
£99.85 |
|||||
|
Loire | 1 | - |
Inc. VAT
£720.58 |
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Product Name | Region | Qty | Score | Price | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Loire | 1 | - |
Inc. VAT
£4,221.60 |
|||||
|
Loire | 1 | - |
In Bond
£100.00 |
|||||
|
Loire | 1 | - |
In Bond
£88.00 |
|||||
|
Loire | 1 | 92 (JD) |
Inc. VAT
£166.80 |
|||||
Jeb Dunnuck (92)The 2018 Sancerre la Grande Cote is terrific, displaying a racy, white grapefruit and mineral-laced bouquet as well a medium-bodied, nicely textured, layered profile on the palate. It has a solid mix of both racy acidity and ripe, concentrated fruit, has a clean, crisp finish, and is an outstanding Sancerre. |
|||||||||
|
Loire | 1 | 92 (JD) |
In Bond
£72.00 |
|||||
Jeb Dunnuck (92)The 2018 Sancerre la Grande Cote is terrific, displaying a racy, white grapefruit and mineral-laced bouquet as well a medium-bodied, nicely textured, layered profile on the palate. It has a solid mix of both racy acidity and ripe, concentrated fruit, has a clean, crisp finish, and is an outstanding Sancerre. |
|||||||||
|
Loire | 1 | - |
In Bond
£70.00 |
|||||
|
Loire | 1 | 94 (VN) |
In Bond
£74.00 |
|||||
Vinous (94)The 2020 Sancerre La Grande Côte is a fine wine with a piercing nose of floral and flint. While it may be dry, it offers a sensation of sweet fruit and high alcohol (14.5%), which Cotat compares to the ripe 2009 and 1990 vintages. Being late-picked and on a south slope, these grapes get ripe, and in this vintage, I can't help but think that the balance has been slightly knocked by this ripeness. That said, it offers delectable texture and sinew and remains an impressive wine. Tasting the 2009 Cul de Beaujeu soon after, high alcohol (15%) remains evident with bottle age. |
|||||||||
|
Loire | 1 | - |
In Bond
£617.00 |
|||||
|
Loire | 1 | - |
In Bond
£121.00 |
|||||
|
Loire | 1 | - |
In Bond
£98.00 |
|||||
|
Loire | 1 | 94 (VN) |
In Bond
£70.00 |
|||||
Vinous (94)There's a gentleness to the 2020 Sancerre Caillotttes and a sensation of sweetness despite its evidently being a dry white. Open, seductive and textural, it offers delightful floral characters and ripe fruit. There's a touch of alcoholic warmth on the finish, but that’s nitpicking. |
|||||||||
|
Loire | 1 | - |
In Bond
£84.00 |
|||||
|
Loire | 1 | 95 (VN) |
In Bond
£372.00 |
|||||
Vinous (95)An idiosyncratic, intriguing wine that is about as far from standard Sancerre as you'll get, and for that, Cotat will be relieved. The 2019 Sancerre Culs de Beaujeu has great concentration, and the gentle handling translates into delicacy of fruit. However, it’s far from a fruity wine; you'll find floral notes, an iodine-like character and nutty nuances (old barrels, including large formats, are preferred). It retains a sense of freshness and an almost briny essence on the long finish. |
|||||||||
|
Loire | 1 | - |
In Bond
£100.00 |
|||||
|
Loire | 1 | - |
In Bond
£600.00 |
|||||
|
Loire | 1 | - |
In Bond
£91.00 |
|||||
|
Loire | 1 | - |
In Bond
£74.00 |
|||||
|
Loire | 1 | 96-97 (VN) |
In Bond
£96.00 |
|||||
Vinous (96-97)A pure and refined expression with intense concentration and laser-like precision. If you're looking for stereotypical Sauvignon fruit, go elsewhere, as the 2019 Sancerre Monts Damnés is a wine that's all about delicacy and structure. While there's a sense of richness on the mid-palate, a rod of acidity runs through the wine, providing a mouthwatering stream of freshness. There is loads of structure here, holding the wine together. Balanced, with a briny character on the long finish. |
|||||||||
|
Loire | 1 | 92 (VN) |
In Bond
£132.00 |
|||||
Vinous (92)While the 2021 Sancerre Les Monts Damnés is a light bodied wine with a sense of roundness at first, there's no mistaking this is a forceful, grippy style. In its youth, it remains relatively restrained with a touch of green jalapeño and herbs reflecting the cooler season, as well as an almost spicy and salty edge. A little more fleeting than expected. |
|||||||||
|
Loire | 2 | - |
In Bond
£629.00 |
|||||
|
Loire | 1 | - |
In Bond
£96.00 |
|||||
|
Loire | 2 | - |
In Bond
£267.00 |
|||||
|
Loire | 1 | - |
In Bond
£80.00 |
|||||
|
Loire | 1 | - |
In Bond
£562.00 |
|||||