2012 Sauvignon Blanc from Domaine Villebois

2012 Sauvignon Blanc, Villebois, AC Touraine

Three 2012 Sauvignon Blancs from Villebois in Eastern Touraine at the village of Seigy. Thierry Merlet, who specialises in Sauvignon Blanc, is the winemaker. All three have attractive fresh fruit with good balancing acidity – showing that for the early ripening varieties 2012 was a good vintage, even if at times volumes were tiny. The range starts with the Petit Villebois, an easy drinking vin de pays Val de Loire. Then two Apellation Touraines – the straight Villebois and the Prestige Cuvée. I particularly liked fresh, crunchy and vibrant fruit of the straight Villebois. The Prestige has a little more concentration but I'm not convinced that it is really better than the straight Villebois – perhaps with a little more bottle age.