J. de Villebois, Sancerre (Loire Valley, France) 2018

 Joost de Willebois, a Dutch financier, knows a business opportunity when he sees it.  In 2004, he found a small Loire winery owned by someone who had no successor and he bought it with the idea of transforming it into something larger.  J. de Villebois now makes a bevy of wines from Sauvignon Blanc, including this Sancerre and a Pouilly-Fumé (also reviewed this week.)   Lovely by itself, this Sancerre becomes more fascinating for those of us who really want to understand the difference Sancerre and Pouilly-Fumé, which is made from the same grape, just grown across the river.   This clean and bright Sancerre has energy and an attractive mouth-cleansing bite.  Not aggressive, it awakens the palate.