1995 Sancerre La Grande Cote

In 1995, there are five cuvees of Sancerre, Cotat's three basic offerings and two limited production Cuvee Speciales made from extremely ripe fruit. All were bottled with no fining or filtration - a rarity in Sancerre. The full-bodied 1995 La Grande Cote, with a natural alcohol of 13.9%, is the richest of the three regular cuvees. However, readers should not take this as a criticism of the other two cuvees, both gorgeous wines. The 1995 La Grande Cote is by far the richest, fullest, and most unctuously-textured of these three dry Sancerres. It may also be the longest-lived, although that is difficult to predict. It offers lavish quantities of fruit and glycerin, as well as that liquid, mineral character that is so much a part of Sauvignon grown in the limestone soils of Sancerre. Cotat is one of the legitimate superstars of the Loire Valley. When he hits on all cylinders, as he obviously has in 1995, these wines are some of the most flavorful, beautifully textured Sauvignon Blancs in the world. He also makes a small quantity of strawberry-flavored rose. These are impressive, benchmark wines from Paul Cotat. A Peter Vezan Selection (Paris fax # 011 33 1 42554293), various American importers