Francois Cotat Sancerre Les Monts Damnes 2022

The Cotat's are one of the most unique winemaking families in the Sancerre region, employing minimal intervention techniques to achieve the purest possible expression of terroir. This bottling comes from a de facto Grand Cru site in Sancerre, planted on south-facing aspects of terres blanches soil (thick, multi-layered clay interspersed with flat, white limestone stones). One of the most powerful and longest-lived wines made in the entirety of Sancerre, Les Monts Damnes amazes with its citrus and walnut flavours alongside alluring touches of salinity and minerality. Elegant, full of finesse, and exceedingly well-balanced, you can enjoy this wine today or a decade in the future. 

95/100 - If you've ever attended a classical concert, there's a brief pause between movements of a symphony; in it, there's a poised hush and a sense of crackling anticipation. The 2022 Monts Damnés reminds me of this hush. It is so very quiet, with a citrusy twinkle in its eye. Despite its initial delicacy and light body, its structure crescendos towards the wine's finale, offering a sense of body, muscle and sinew that requires more time in bottle. I'd happily wait a while. - Rebecca Gibb MW, Vinous