Pascal Cotat crafts some of the most distinctive and age-worthy wines of Sancerre, continuing a family tradition in Chavignol that spans generations. After the Cotat brothers split their holdings in the 1990s, Pascal took on his share, farming just a few prized hectares. His approach remains resolutely artisanal: late harvesting by hand to ensure full ripeness, natural fermentations with indigenous yeasts, long élevage in older demi-muids, and bottling without fining or filtration. These methods, coupled with steep slopes and old vines, give his wines remarkable depth and longevity.

‘La Grande Côte’ is one of the most celebrated vineyards of Chavignol, planted on classic terres blanches soils of chalk and clay. The 2023 vintage shows the vineyard’s pedigree in vivid form. The nose is lifted with citrus peel, green pear, and delicate herbal tones, underscored by a flinty minerality. On the palate, the wine is concentrated yet racy, combining juicy stone fruit with chalky precision and a subtle peppery note. There is both power and finesse here, with a long saline finish that promises further complexity with time in bottle. Though approachable in its youth, this cuvée has the structure and intensity to develop for many years, gaining weight and textural depth reminiscent of fine white Burgundy.