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+--- Thread: Two white Sancerre wines--contrasting styles (/thread-10104.html)
- wondersofwine - 06-20-2003
This week I opened 2000 La Grand Cote from Francois Cotat and from his father, Pascal Cotat. They are based in Chavignol, France.
The Francois Cotat wine is his regular bottling. The Pascal Cotat wine is the Speciale Cuvee.
Both wines were 12.5% alcohol.
FRANCOIS COTAT 2000 LA GRAND COTE
Pale straw in color. Nose of grapefruit and lemon, lemon furniture polish (possibly some spring clover but it was more citrusy than herbal). Scads of tiny little bubbles coat the sides of the glass when first poured.
Taste of citrus fruits, especially grapefruit and tangerine; some heft mid-palate. Really terrific as a summer wine! Crisp and citrusy!
(Both wines were paired over three nights with boiled shrimp with butter-lemon sauce, roast chicken with mushrooms, rice and broccoli and Stilton cheese. While I like other bleu cheese with Sauvignon Blanc, the Stilton is better with Port and next time I will open a Port.)
PASCAL COTAT 2000 LA GRAND COTE SPECIALE CUVEE
Pale gold in color. Nose less expressive that the other wine but a little pear detected. Taste: on the first glass noticed faint pear and white peach undertone; not as citrusy as the other. By the second glass the fruit seemed overcome by oak. By the third evening, the wine seemed too acidic. Not my style of Sauvignon Blanc. Pascal Cotat's Sauvignon Blanc in general received high praise from Robert Parker. It was also lauded on a North Berkeley Wine blurb and I found myself wondering if they were drinking the same wine I was drinking! The North Berkeley note did say it was infanticide to drink the wine before it was five years old, but I can't see two more years in bottle really improving the Speciale Cuvee that much.
So far, I have preferred the son's style with Sancerre rouge or rose as well as with white wines.
[This message has been edited by wondersofwine (edited 06-20-2003).]
[This message has been edited by wondersofwine (edited 06-20-2003).]