Sancerre Blanc Le Cotelin – Domaine du Pré Semelé
Le Cotelin is one of the estate’s top cuvées, crafted from a small parcel that has been free from herbicides and pesticides since 2015. From the 2023 vintage onwards, the wine will be certified organic.
Domaine du Pré Semelé is a small, family-owned winery located about 5 km north of Sancerre. Now led by the fourth generation, the winery has seen a remarkable increase in quality, building upon an already solid reputation.
Le Cotelin is made from hand-harvested grapes from vines averaging 50 years old. The vineyard soil consists of what the locals call caillotes—white to eggshell-colored limestone pebbles mixed with clay-rich limestone soil, sitting atop solid Portland limestone bedrock. The vineyard is cultivated with natural ground cover, and the grapes are carefully picked in 25 kg crates to ensure they arrive at the winery in perfect condition. After a gentle press following a short maceration, fermentation takes place in 600-liter demi-muids, where the wine is then aged on the lees for a year.
Unlike the estate’s delightful entry-level Sancerre, Mainbré, this cuvée offers more concentration, complexity, and body, as well as greater aging potential. Still a fresh and aromatic Sauvignon Blanc, Le Cotelin presents a broader structure in its youth, making it a perfect match for more substantial dishes compared to Sancerres fermented exclusively in stainless steel.
The nose and palate deliver an abundance of preserved lemon, ripe grapefruit, and pronounced limestone minerality. The acidity is present but well-integrated, lending the wine a fuller, more textured profile compared to the leaner, stainless-steel-fermented Sancerres. That being said, the 2022 vintage boasts a wonderful freshness that makes Le Cotelin Sancerre simply irresistible.
Best enjoyed in large white wine glasses at 10–14°C, either as an aperitif or with a wide range of dishes. Unlike lighter Sancerres, this wine pairs well with richer cuisine. It can be cellared for several years and will age gracefully for 10–15 years under proper storage conditions.
