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Pierre Cotton is part of a new generation of Beaujolais winegrowers, dedicated to natural wine and permaculture. From his family estate, he works his terroir in his own way, following in the footsteps of Jules Métras and Yann Bertrand. The old building is located on the south face of the Brouilly hill.
The Pierre Cotton estate was born of an extraordinary trajectory
Joseph Sanvers started the family business in 1956. Since then, five generations have succeeded one another at Sanvers & Cotton. Pierre Cotton works with his father Guy.
The estate has already adopted a low-chemical grape-growing method and is considering converting to organic farming. But Pierre chose to step out of the ranks and train in the Loire Valley with natural winemakers using atypical methods. He has wider ambitions for the estate.
Back with his father, he created his first natural wine in 2014 in Côte de Brouilly and marketed it under his own name. Now associated with Marine Bonnet, Pierre Cotton works according to his principles, bringing a breath of fresh air to the Beaujolais region.
The Pierre Cotton estate uses permaculture
The estate’s 13 hectares are mainly planted with Gamay grapes. A few parcels of Chardonnay have recently been added to the estate. The terroir of the Beaujolais is so complex that the winemakers work all their cuvées on a plot-by-plot basis. Pierre Cotton’s ambition is to let his terroir speak for itself, to let it express itself freely. This is why he insists on vinifying each of his cuvées identically.
Pierre Cotton and his neighboring estates work in the same way, following the principles of organic farming and permaculture. They are also interested in agroecology and agroforestry. For example, trees are planted within the plots to maintain the soil.
Natural wine is made from hand-picked grapes in small boxes. The process includes the use of indigenous yeasts, carbonic maceration in cement and ageing in tuns for 8 months.
Domaine Pierre Cotton’s natural wines have nothing to envy their neighbors.
The estate produces lively wines that reflect the terroir. They are spread over five appellations: Côte de Brouilly, Brouilly, Régnié, Fleurie and Beaujolais. All the domaine’s wines have ageing potential, and their aromas develop over time.
100% Cotton, which was Pierre’s first cuvée in 2014, is a precise, deep Gamay from vines over 60 years old. The recent acquisition of a plot in Fleurie Poncié has resulted in a flowery, elegant cuvée.
Photos: Pierre Cotton
Directeur artistique, Alfred Laurent est l'âme créative de la première place de marché direct producteur en France. Passionné de Beaujolais, de moto et de BD, il est toujours à l'affût de la nouvelle pépite !
