François Cotat has been working at the family estate since 1979 with his father, eventually succeeding him in 1998. This small, family-run estate in Chavignol (a village famous for its goat's cheese) owns plots located in Monts Damnés, Grande Côte and Culs de Beaujeu (where the hills can reach an angle of 45%!). Late harvests of over-ripe grapes give unctuous wines that generally contain a little residual sugar. These wines can easily be left for decades, and contribute to the continuing legend of the great wines of Sancerre. This area produces great Sancerre wines with impressive ageing potential. All the estate's wines are sold in advance every year, earning François Cotat his membership of the tightly-knit circle of Sancerre's "Popes" who never have any wine left over to sell, as all bottles are pre-booked.

Cuvée Mont Damnés comes from vines which are over 35 years old, harvested by hand and grown in a sustainable environment. The wine, neither filtered nor clarified, displays fine maturity, coupled with successful ageing in old barrels. Long and crystalline, on the palate there is considerable volume and a mature, rich and concentrated substance. Balance, minerality and tension are the key words of this wine, a benchmark of the appellation.