2008 Sancerre La Grande Cote
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Tasting notes
Saline and alkaline sea breeze; white truffle and chalk dust; grapefruit and honeydew melon fill the nose from Pascal Cotat’s 2008 Sancerre La Grande Cote, then inform a polished palate of palpable extract and fascinating complexity, its strong mineral and musky animal sides enveloped by luscious, refreshing citrus and melon, and with sheer chalk residue having the long, Chavignol-appropriate last word. This should prove worth following for at least 6-8 years. A Peter Vezan Selection (various importers), Paris; fax 011 33 1 42 55 42 93
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Average Score
Josh Raynolds
David Schildknecht, Wine Advocate
More reviews and scores
Bright yellow. Pungent aromas of citrus pith, pear skin and minerals, plus a cool, herbal aspect. Juicy and savory, with strong minerality, citrus character and impressively concentrated orchard and pit fruit flavors. There's a nervy talc-like quality to this uncompromising wine, which finishes with excellent clarity and lingering spiciness. This wine achieved 14% natural alcohol, according to Cotat, but I don't detect any heat.
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.