Sancerre Cuvée Spéciale La Grande Côte Francis Cotat 1996

The La Grande Côte locality is a steep, south-east-facing slope rooted in Kimmeridgian marl, a limestone soil interwoven with clay and marine fossils, giving the wines their vibrant minerality, natural verticality and exceptional ageing structure. The grapes are harvested by hand at slight over-ripeness, bringing an unusual richness for the appellation. Winemaking follows a traditional approach: spontaneous fermentation with native yeasts, without any added inputs, in seasoned big barrels, followed by extended ageing on fine lees. The wine is bottled without fining or filtration.
The bright, clear yellow hue leads into an expressive nose of quince, preserved lemon, white flowers, warm stone and delicate honey. Broad, intense and finely chiselled on the palate, the wine balances saline mineral tension with a layered, complex texture, leading to a long, vibrant finish.