J. de Villebois

The wine is light and refreshing, with verbena and grapefruit. Crunchy minerality adds some character and makes the finish savory.

I saw this wine last vintage and thought it was impressive, and it is just fine in 2022. The Vin de France cuvée gives J. de Villebois the leeway to work outside Sancerre with grapes grown on the cool Atlantic Coast and in the Loire Valley. Don’t be fooled: the result is more Sancerre than Vin de France, which means you get a sauvignon that overdelivers for its price. Fresh, dry, and linear, there is a line of citrus and gooseberry with a slight tug of dryness. Still, it's a treat for the price and should be an easy order with fresh oysters.