For the second month in a row, we’re featuring a Sauvignon Blanc from the Coteaux du Giennois, a long ribbon of vineyards on the limestone clay right bank of the Loire river between Pouilly Fuissé and Orléans. Domaine de Villargeau stands in a hamlet of the same name, a modern, solar powered building across the road from a 17th century stone barn, both owned by the Thibaud family. Farming (mostly) organically, Marc Thibaud oversees the winery with the aim of producing a richly textured wine with crisp-edged aromas. Native yeast fermentations take place in stainless steel, where the wine is aged before bottling. This edition showcases the cool temperament of the 2021 vintage, with notes of crushed white pepper, lemon and apple, acacia, gentian root, salt, and just the faintest touch of horseradish. On the palate, the wine sings with verve and clarity, offering lemon juice, verbena, lavender, lemongrass, and a finishing kick of pure limestone. Bright but substantial texture gives this wine the ability to stand up to rich, savory cuisine. Rich cuts of freshwater fish, roasted birds rubbed in brine, and scallop soups come to mind.