2002 Sancerre les Monts Damnes
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Tasting notes
Produced from 30 year-old vines planted in white chalky soils, the 2002 Sancerre Chavignol Reserve des Monts Damnes sports a terrific nose of minerals, flowers, and honey. Hugely spicy, it bastes the palate with cinnamon, mulling spices, black currants, dark cherries, and apples. Medium-bodied, pure, and powerfully-flavored, this silky-textured gem appears to be meant for near-term drinking. Anticipated maturity: now-2008. A Peter Vezan Selection, Paris fax #011-33-1-42-55-42-93, various American importers including Importer: A David Schildknecht Selection, Vintner Select, Cincinnati, OH; tel. (513) 229-3630; North Berkeley Imports, Berkeley, CA; tel. (800) 266-6585; Ideal Wines, Medford, MA; tel. (781) 395-3300; and Import!, Madison, WI; tel. (608) 255-8622
Critic scores
Average Score
Stephen Tanzer, Vinous
Pierre Rovani
More reviews and scores
Bright, pale yellow. Knockout nose combines lemon thyme, jalapeño pepper, caraway seed and complex dried herbs. Very dry, leanish and classic, with juicy, vibrant flavors of pineapple, pink grapefruit and flowers. Dense, bright and delineated. A classic example from Mont Damnes.
About the producer
The other Cotat, Pascal Cotat, is cousin to the legendary François Cotat. The original family domaine was divided between them in 1998, and Pascal Cotat works many of the same vineyards, producing fine – if not quite as prized – Sancerre.