Pascal Cotat

“Cotat produces old-style Sancerre…rich, full-flavored…they are some of the finest Sauvignon Blancs I have ever put to my lips.” says Robert Parker. Like his cousin François, Pascal Cotat crafts uncanny wines that defy both time and definition. These are wines that can age for decades effortlessly, and that marry a plush richness with a laser-like cut and energy. Pascal as a rule harvests by hand and very late, as pushing ripeness to the extreme is one element that gives his wines their weighty texture and complexity.

Vineyards are located on very steep slopes, requiring a hand harvest that has become a bit of a pilgrimage for Cotat devotees. The steepest plots can only be worked by sliding down with a cushion tied to your rear while you hold the bucket in front of you. The cousins invented this amusing system, and pickers come from all over Europe every year to volunteer for the harvest.

The Cotat family pioneered single-vineyard bottlings in Sancerre, and each terroir—whether “Les Monts Damnés” or “Grande Côte”—has its own unique personality.