A little Loire wine is always good. This time, from the Touraine region.
Villebois is a young family winery led by Joost de Villebois since its establishment in 1996. The land in Touraine is generous as usual. Like everywhere in Loire, the leading variety is Sauvignon Blanc. Villebois, a modern winery by definition, seeks to preserve terroir expressions and variety while engaging in winemaking that resonates with the new wine world, unlike the traditional one.
This doesn't mean it's a New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc venture. But compared to wineries that emphasize tradition reflected in dryness and noticeable mineral profile, here the tastes tend significantly towards fruitiness and accessibility. The wines are enjoyable, mostly light. They will be appreciated by wine novices easily, but also by connoisseurs who will appreciate the pleasant qualities of the fruit and the variety. The value for money for these wines is generally good to excellent, and their gastronomic potential is usually high. Cheers!
Villebois, Sauvignon Blanc 2022
100% Sauvignon Blanc from the Loire Valley. Cold fermentation in stainless steel tanks at controlled temperatures. Bright yellow color. Aromas and blossom on the nose. Light to medium-bodied. 11.5% alcohol by volume.
Price? NIS 75.
Best paired with: Chicken, fish, sandwiches.
Reviewer's note: A light, fruity, refreshing, aromatic Sauvignon with gentle acidity and decent balance. A bit "new world," more fruity than mineral, but charming and pleasant.
Value for money: 3.5/5 (Good).
Villebois, Chenin Blanc 2022
100% Chenin Blanc from vineyards along the banks of the Cher River in the Loire Valley. Rapid pressing and fermentation in stainless steel tanks and oak barrels. Aging for several months on lees with frequent stirring. Bright yellow color. Aromas of white fruits. Light to medium-bodied. 12% alcohol by volume.
Price? NIS 75.
Best paired with: Spicy Asian food, sushi, carpaccio, and tartare.
Reviewer's note: Good fruit, with a touch of gentle natural sweetness; sharp, balancing acidity; subtle mineral hints. High gastronomic potential.
Value for money: 3.5/5 (Good).
Villebois, Pinot Noir Rosé 2022
Pinot Noir grapes from vineyards in Touraine and Sancerre, Loire Valley. Grapes pressed and fermented in stainless steel tanks at controlled temperatures. Partial malolactic fermentation. Slightly apricot pink color. Red fruit on the nose. Medium to full-bodied. 12% alcohol by volume.
Price? NIS 75.
Best paired with: Sandwiches, picnics, pizza.
Reviewer's note: Think Provence rosé, about finesse and typical dryness? Think again. Well, it's not a true Provence rosé, but with a relatively full body, high fruity profile, and only mild acidity, it's a completely different experience.
Value for money: 3/5 (Not bad).
Villebois, Pinot Noir 2022
100% Pinot Noir from vineyards in the Loire Valley. Cold maceration and fermentation in stainless steel tanks with gentle cap mixing. A small portion aged for several months in oak barrels. Bottled in early spring after harvest. Slightly dark red color. Red fruit on the nose. Light-bodied. 13% alcohol by volume.
Price? NIS 75.
Best paired with: Sandwiches, pizza, salads, chicken.
Reviewer's note: Light, very fruity, fresh, lacking complexity, and very pleasant.
Value for money: 2.5/5 (Realistic).
Villebois, Touraine Sauvignon Blanc 2022
Sauvignon Blanc grapes from vineyards along the Cher River in Touraine, in the heart of the Loire Valley. Gentle pressing after 12 hours skin contact. Fermentation in stainless steel tanks at controlled temperatures and brief aging in vessels on lees. Yellow color. White fruit, blossoms, and grassiness on the nose. Light to medium-bodied. 12.5% alcohol by volume.
Price? NIS 85.
Best paired with: Carpaccio, ceviche, and seafood tartare.
Reviewer's note: Slightly less fruity and slightly more mineral and dry than its white counterparts reviewed so far. Sharp and precise, a bit fuller than the others, the light ones, and still with precise and clear fruit characteristics. A decent basic Sauvignon.
Value for money: 3.5/5 (Good).
Villebois, Sancerre 2022
Sauvignon Blanc from Sancerre, Loire Valley. Gentle pressing and fermentation in stainless steel tanks at controlled temperatures. Aging in vessels for several months on lees in the winery's cellar after the harvest. Yellow-green color. Aromas and herbs on the nose. Full-bodied. 13% alcohol by volume.
Price? NIS 150.
Best paired with: Fish and seafood, shellfish.
Reviewer's note: Not your classical Sancerre characteristics, more of a modern Sancerre with expressions of the new wine world, mainly in noticeable fruitiness. Substantially richer compared to all its predecessors in this review and intended for more substantial seafood dishes. A worthy wine.
Value for money: 2.5/5 (Realistic).