Great structure, but tasted slightly musty, at least initially … other notes suggest that’s due to youth of the wine and sugar needing to mature further. Perhaps! Keep for a couple of years and try again!
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Dang, that’s some fabulous Sauvignon blanc. A horses whisker behind Vatan. Clean linen, kimmeridgian minerals, lime zest, with a lovely palate weight. Delish, and better on day 2.
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Brought by A_M to our tasting on the deck in sunny NV. On the nose and palate, relatively subdued notes of green apple skins, lemon-lime zest, white and yellow flowers, steel and river rocks. Light gold-silver, light to medium bodied, medium legs. Lightish acidity, no heat. VG intensity, moderate complexity and persistence. A_M suggested this, and it seemed a nice contrast to our giant C. Coast syrahs, especially on a warm-ish afternoon. As readers of my TNs know, my SB tastes skew toward the taut, lithe, piercing acidity sort, epitomized by the Spottswoode, and to a somewhat lesser extent, Graywhacke Wild, Merry Edwards and Cloudy Bay. While I have an appreciation for Sancerres, as Maximum Satisfaction notes in his TN, this is coming from a texturally creamier, richer place, although interestingly, it’s paired with the fruit being fairly tight. As a refreshing alternative, it provided a good counterpoint, and while we were more munching than eating, seemed it would work well with food (think more cooked white fish and shellfish, less raw oysters and sushi). I’m interested in other TNs indicating that they think that this has the ability to age positively, as I prefer my SBs typically on the young side, say 3-6 years, and it’s not obvious to me that this will go up much, although there’s enough acidity that if the fruit comes out a bit more, it might. Ex the Rhône’s, I sometimes wonder if, with French wine, I’m like what Louis Armstrong said about jazz, that if it has to be explained, you’ll never understand it, or as my uncle once said to my sister, subtlety is lost on me, as, despite my enjoyment of this, it falls well below the above SBs, according to WS, at about a third higher price. Still, you could do far worse, from your deck (ok, you’re drinking this and not a Batard, so it’s probably a VRBO) overlooking Cap De Antibes, staring out at the impossibly azure waters of the Mediterranean and contemplating the meaning of life. Ridiculously stupid wax seal takes this down half a point. 90-91+
Nose: Young Cotat Sancerre. Definitely a little shy and a little closed. Mirabelle fruit, wet mineral, slate. Totally clean.
Pal: Full body. Mirabelle fruit, wet minerals, and kiss of straw/wax/wet wool. Lovely richness. Totally dry. Sl, sl phenolic (bitter) finsh. 13.5% alc. Very undeveloped. This wine needs time. Five years in a cool cellar would be perfect. Will develop and hold for 15 years after the vintage.
From arguably the most iconic producer in all of Sancerre. From one of the steepest, most iconic vineyards in Sancerre.
Drinks fine now. But... Peak drinking: 2025-2030.
JGH Sommelier CMS-III SF Bay Area
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Sauvignon Blanc From Around the World, Tasted Blind (Casa de la Mata - Chicago IL): Double blind in SB tasting, alongside what turned out to be '19 Culs de Beaujeu. These also seemed so classically Sancere. Dense and well packed with so much apple, followed by spice hints. Not perfectly integrated yet, but so big and concentrated that I preferred this over Beaujeu.
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Aromas of lemon, quince, sage and stone lead to a mouthful of off-dry, saline lemon peel that turns to bone dry oyster shell on the long full bodied finish.
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I continue to be intrigued by the 2019 vintage in the Loire Valley, and here is more evidence that maybe it is a great vintage across the board. The 2019 F. Cotat Sancerre Monts Damnes shows an ethereal nose of white orchard fruit combined with gradually strengthening aromas of white flowers, sage, and very finely crushed stone. The presentation of aromas is beguiling here, as one has the sensation of moving slowly through microenvironments that end up playing out on the palate in both time and space. On the palate, the wine is superbly focused and penetrating, with an initial attack of sweet viscous orchard fruit that transitions effortlessly to an inner mouth perfume of fragrant herbs and white flowers. The overall balance is admirable, but perhaps even more striking is that it comes across as fully integrated--the transitions and the resulting thrust on the finish are impeccable.
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Pale straw. Nose of cut grass. This is also by far the predominant feature in the mouth. It has substantial presence and drive, reflecting its youth, and it stayed in third gear over three nights. Vibrant, with lovely acidity. Should develop quite nicely. PS: See comment note below of December 13, 2021: I’ve recently realized that I misidentified this wine — I was tasting the version from cousin Pascal, not François. In my lame defense, the labels are almost identical — and from what I can discern, the winemaking is very similar. But this is no longer a valid review of François‘s version of this wine.
11/16/2023 - BB_RP Likes this wine: 90 Points
Great structure, but tasted slightly musty, at least initially … other notes suggest that’s due to youth of the wine and sugar needing to mature further. Perhaps! Keep for a couple of years and try again!
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11/4/2022 - jviz wrote: 93 Points
Dang, that’s some fabulous Sauvignon blanc. A horses whisker behind Vatan. Clean linen, kimmeridgian minerals, lime zest, with a lovely palate weight. Delish, and better on day 2.
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4/8/2022 - sfwinelover1 wrote: 90 Points
Brought by A_M to our tasting on the deck in sunny NV. On the nose and palate, relatively subdued notes of green apple skins, lemon-lime zest, white and yellow flowers, steel and river rocks. Light gold-silver, light to medium bodied, medium legs. Lightish acidity, no heat. VG intensity, moderate complexity and persistence. A_M suggested this, and it seemed a nice contrast to our giant C. Coast syrahs, especially on a warm-ish afternoon. As readers of my TNs know, my SB tastes skew toward the taut, lithe, piercing acidity sort, epitomized by the Spottswoode, and to a somewhat lesser extent, Graywhacke Wild, Merry Edwards and Cloudy Bay. While I have an appreciation for Sancerres, as Maximum Satisfaction notes in his TN, this is coming from a texturally creamier, richer place, although interestingly, it’s paired with the fruit being fairly tight. As a refreshing alternative, it provided a good counterpoint, and while we were more munching than eating, seemed it would work well with food (think more cooked white fish and shellfish, less raw oysters and sushi). I’m interested in other TNs indicating that they think that this has the ability to age positively, as I prefer my SBs typically on the young side, say 3-6 years, and it’s not obvious to me that this will go up much, although there’s enough acidity that if the fruit comes out a bit more, it might. Ex the Rhône’s, I sometimes wonder if, with French wine, I’m like what Louis Armstrong said about jazz, that if it has to be explained, you’ll never understand it, or as my uncle once said to my sister, subtlety is lost on me, as, despite my enjoyment of this, it falls well below the above SBs, according to WS, at about a third higher price. Still, you could do far worse, from your deck (ok, you’re drinking this and not a Batard, so it’s probably a VRBO) overlooking Cap De Antibes, staring out at the impossibly azure waters of the Mediterranean and contemplating the meaning of life. Ridiculously stupid wax seal takes this down half a point. 90-91+
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11/24/2021 - Jon Harrison Likes this wine: 91 Points
(Imported by North Berkeley Wine Imports)
Yellow wax finished capsule. Short cork (interesting).
Color: Light-med straw. Slight turbidity (unfiltered).
Nose: Young Cotat Sancerre. Definitely a little shy and a little closed. Mirabelle fruit, wet mineral, slate. Totally clean.
Pal: Full body. Mirabelle fruit, wet minerals, and kiss of straw/wax/wet wool. Lovely richness. Totally dry. Sl, sl phenolic (bitter) finsh. 13.5% alc. Very undeveloped. This wine needs time. Five years in a cool cellar would be perfect. Will develop and hold for 15 years after the vintage.
From arguably the most iconic producer in all of Sancerre. From one of the steepest, most iconic vineyards in Sancerre.
Drinks fine now. But...
Peak drinking: 2025-2030.
JGH Sommelier CMS-III SF Bay Area
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10/2/2021 - Sieegs Likes this wine: 92 Points
Burgundy Al review is spot on. Great bones here but just seems a little disjointed at this point in time.
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9/6/2021 - Burgundy Al wrote: 91 Points
Sauvignon Blanc From Around the World, Tasted Blind (Casa de la Mata - Chicago IL): Double blind in SB tasting, alongside what turned out to be '19 Culs de Beaujeu. These also seemed so classically Sancere. Dense and well packed with so much apple, followed by spice hints. Not perfectly integrated yet, but so big and concentrated that I preferred this over Beaujeu.
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7/8/2021 - Donjcorleone Likes this wine: 93 Points
Aromas of lemon, quince, sage and stone lead to a mouthful of off-dry, saline lemon peel that turns to bone dry oyster shell on the long full bodied finish.
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5/22/2021 - CSteefel wrote: 95 Points
I continue to be intrigued by the 2019 vintage in the Loire Valley, and here is more evidence that maybe it is a great vintage across the board. The 2019 F. Cotat Sancerre Monts Damnes shows an ethereal nose of white orchard fruit combined with gradually strengthening aromas of white flowers, sage, and very finely crushed stone. The presentation of aromas is beguiling here, as one has the sensation of moving slowly through microenvironments that end up playing out on the palate in both time and space. On the palate, the wine is superbly focused and penetrating, with an initial attack of sweet viscous orchard fruit that transitions effortlessly to an inner mouth perfume of fragrant herbs and white flowers. The overall balance is admirable, but perhaps even more striking is that it comes across as fully integrated--the transitions and the resulting thrust on the finish are impeccable.
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2/6/2021 - MAXIMUM SATISFACTION wrote: 90 Points
More of the creamy/savory side versus crisp and acidic. Pretty unique with loads of mustiness on the finish. Primary and needing time.
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12/17/2020 - Deux Chevaux wrote:
Pale straw. Nose of cut grass. This is also by far the predominant feature in the mouth. It has substantial presence and drive, reflecting its youth, and it stayed in third gear over three nights. Vibrant, with lovely acidity. Should develop quite nicely. PS: See comment note below of December 13, 2021: I’ve recently realized that I misidentified this wine — I was tasting the version from cousin Pascal, not François. In my lame defense, the labels are almost identical — and from what I can discern, the winemaking is very similar. But this is no longer a valid review of François‘s version of this wine.
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