Domaine Henri Bourgeois : Le Cotelin 2018

Tasting characteristics and advice for Cotelin 2018 from Domaine Henri Bourgeois

Tasting

Appearance
The wine displays a yellow hue with golden highlights.

Nose
The nose reveals an expressive bouquet of very ripe white fruits, with notes of warm pear alongside touches of cinnamon and vanilla. Citrus aromas, notably pink grapefruit and apple, mingle with a hallmark mineral dimension.

Palate
On the palate, Cotelin 2018 stands out for its supple, rounded texture, underpinned by a powerful structure. Bright, well-balanced acidity runs through the tasting, bringing freshness and vibrancy. The finish lingers on mineral notes reminiscent of sandstone, the signature of this Kimmeridgian marl terroir.

Food and wine pairings
This Sancerre white wine is an ideal match for a fish carpaccio or a tomato and mozzarella salad. It also pairs beautifully with foie gras, white meats such as chicken or veal, as well as grilled fish such as sole with Dugléré sauce. Aged or grilled goat cheeses, notably the local Crottin de Chavignol, also make an excellent pairing.

Serving and cellaring
Cotelin 2018 can be enjoyed now, while also offering excellent aging potential.

An outstanding Sancerre white wine from the Kimmeridgian marls of Domaine Henri Bourgeois

The estate
Founded in 1950 by Henri Bourgeois, Domaine Henri Bourgeois now spans 72 hectares across more than one hundred plots throughout the Sancerre and Pouilly-Fumé appellations. Based in Chavignol, in the heart of the Loire Valley, this family estate is currently led by Arnaud Bourgeois, representing the tenth generation of winegrowers, alongside his brothers Lionel and Jean-Christophe. A pioneer in plot-by-plot expression of Sancerre terroirs, the estate obtained organic certification for its entire vineyard starting with the 2023 vintage. Internationally acclaimed, it ranks among the 50 best vineyards in the world and embodies the excellence of Loire wines through an environmentally respectful approach and a constant pursuit of viticultural precision.

The vineyard
Cotelin comes from a single 1.23-hectare plot located in Sury-en-Vaux, in the Maimbray area in the northwest of the Sancerre appellation. Planted in 1989, this Sauvignon Blanc vineyard lies on a Kimmeridgian marl terroir, a soil made up of shell fossils dating back to the Jurassic era. This type of soil lends these Sancerre wines remarkable aromatic intensity and distinctive mineral complexity. Yields are deliberately limited to 28 hectoliters per hectare, well below permitted levels, in order to concentrate aromas and fully express the character of the terroir. The steep slopes, with gradients of 30 to 35%, require hand harvesting and meticulous vineyard management.

The vintage
The 2018 vintage in Sancerre benefited from favorable conditions, producing ripe, concentrated grapes while preserving the hallmark acidity of the appellation’s finest wines. This year made it possible to craft wines balancing freshness with aromatic fullness.

Winemaking and aging
The grapes for Cotelin 2018 are harvested by hand after rigorous daily monitoring of ripeness. Pressing is carried out slowly over 2.5 to 3 hours at low pressure. The must then undergoes static settling at 8°C with daily stirring of the lees. Alcoholic fermentation takes place over three to four weeks: two thirds in temperature-controlled stainless-steel tanks between 15 and 20 degrees Celsius, and one third in 600-liter oak barrels from 2001. The barrel-aged portion remains on full lees for six to eight months with twice-weekly bâtonnage until Christmas, then weekly until spring. The final blend brings the two components together to create a Sancerre white wine combining minerality and textural richness.

Grape variety
100% Sauvignon Blanc