Structure

Bodymedium
Tanninlow
Acidityhigh
Sweetnessdry
Finishlong
Oaknone or neutral

Drinking window

Latest scored vintage 2021: best 2023 to 2033.
vintage2 yrs12 yrs14 yrs

Critic scores

CriticVintageScore
Decanter reviewed 2023202193/100

Scores as published by each critic for the vintage shown.

In the glass

Medium-bodiedLow tanninHigh acidityDryLong finish

Aroma: grapefruit, white blossom, chalk, smoke

Palate: citrus, saline mineral, white peach, wet stone

Sauvignon Blanc from the famed Monts Damnés slope in Chavignol on Kimmeridgian marl. Tense citrus and white peach lifted by a smoky, chalky finish.

What it pairs with

  • Crottin de Chavignol
    The wine and Chavignol's own goat cheese share the same hillside; salt-and-chalk lactic interplay is textbook.
  • Sushi and sashimi
    Tense acidity and saline mineral edge handle delicate raw fish without overpowering soy and wasabi.
  • Oysters on the half shell
    Saline minerality echoes shellfish brine; citrus replaces lemon wedge.
  • Sole grenobloise
    Caper and lemon meet a Sauvignon with citrus-on-citrus precision and chalky structure for the brown butter.

History

Henri Bourgeois bottled the Côte des Monts Damnés as a single-vineyard cuvée from his historic family parcels in Chavignol, on the steepest Kimmeridgian marl in Sancerre.

  1. 1985: First single-vineyard La Côte des Monts Damnés bottling
  2. 2002: Tenth-generation Arnaud Bourgeois assumes oversight of viticulture

Facts

Producer
Domaine Henri Bourgeois (Famille Bourgeois) · visiting guide
Grapes
Sauvignon Blanc (100%)
Classification
Sancerre AOC
Oak
Vinified in stainless steel; bottle-aged before release, no new oak
ABV
13.0%
Price
EUR 35 to 55 at retail
Drinking window
2-12 from vintage
First vintage
1985

Frequently asked about Sancerre La Côte des Monts Damnés

What does Bourgeois La Côte des Monts Damnés taste like?

Grapefruit, white blossom, chalk and smoke on the nose; citrus, saline mineral, white peach and wet stone on the palate. Medium-bodied with high acidity and a long smoky, chalky finish.

When should I drink La Côte des Monts Damnés?

Drink between 2 and 12 years from vintage. The Kimmeridgian marl gives the wine layered minerality that builds with 3 to 5 years in bottle.

Where is La Côte des Monts Damnés grown?

The Monts Damnés slope in Chavignol, the steepest and most prestigious lieu-dit in the Sancerre AOC. Soils are Kimmeridgian marl, the same vein that defines Chablis.

What food pairs with La Côte des Monts Damnés?

Crottin de Chavignol goat cheese is the textbook match; sushi, oysters and sole grenobloise are equally strong pairings.

Tags

dry high acid medium body medium term mood elegant mood refreshing occasion aperitivo occasion dinner party occasion special old world pairs with shellfish pairs with soft cheese pairs with sushi pairs with white fish price premium sauvignon blanc single vineyard still white

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