Domaine Alain Cailbourdin, Pouilly-Fume 'Triptyque Silex' 2021

In the Loire Valley, Sancerre and Pouilly-Fumé are synonymous with sauvignon blanc. Both villages are famous for steely, crisp, fragrant white wines. While they can be perfectly enjoyable, there’s a small group of producers who pursue a more powerful, complex style. They farm old vines, harvest later, and age their sauvignon blanc in wood rather than steel. Like Cotat in Sancerre and Dagueneau in Pouilly-Fumé, Alain Cailbourdin is one such winemaker. But unlike those other names, his textured, toasty sauvignon blanc is available for less than $100.