2005 Sancerre Chavignol La Grande Cote
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Tasting notes
Francois Cotat’s 2005 Sancerre La Grand Cote displays Chartreuse-like herbal-floral essences with ripe pear, quince, pink grapefruit, and melon in the nose, wonderfully honeyed richness, creamy texture, and plush fruit on the palate, and finishes with ringing clarity of citrus, herbal-floral essences, and chalky as well as mysteriously pungent, ore-like manifestations of minerality. A Peter Vezan Selection (various importers), Paris; fax 011 33 1 42 55 42 93
Critic scores
Josh Raynolds
David Schildknecht, Wine Advocate
More reviews and scores
Pale gold. Exotic, floral-laced peach, apricot pit, quince, wet stone and quinine aromas show excellent breadth and thrust. Deep in concentrated peach, ripe pear and yellow plum flavors, with serious mineral extract and powerful but thoroughly integrated acidity. Has size as well as precision, with a strong, talc-y mineral note on the finish. This needs cellar time and should be a stunner. I recently drank a 1998 Grand Cote and it was still a baby.
About the producer
Sancerre’s leading producer, François Cotat is known for his idiosyncratic, age-worthy expressions of Sauvignon Blanc on Kimmeridgian soils, not to mention his prized rosé. Sometimes denied appellation status for their atypical style, these wines are some of the most collectable in the region.