Les Mont Damnés, one of their prized vineyards, adds another layer of intrigue to the Cotat story. Perched on a steep, south-facing slope, this vineyard is all about purity—pure limestone soils, 45-year-old vines, and fruit that’s carefully hand-harvested. The winemaking here is old school, almost rebellious in its simplicity: fermenting with indigenous yeast in ancient casks that have seen generations come and go. This approach captures the raw, unfiltered essence of Sancerre, channeling the vineyard’s soul straight into the bottle. The Cotats let the terroir of Les Mont Damnés speak for itself, resulting in wines that are as much about place as they are about flavor. Here, the Kimmeridgian minerality is almost tactile, a dense concentration that hints at oyster shells and shrimp tails, balanced by a surprising lushness. This vineyard’s south-facing slope soaks up the sun, giving the wines a ripe, almost muscular core that stands apart, even among the opulent standards set by Pascal and Francois Cotat.