Question: Is there a change in the different size wine bottles that are allowed to be imported into the USA?

Answer: Yes the TTB (Department of the Treasury Alcohol and Tobacco Tax & Trade Bureau) passed a regulation effective January 3, 2025 amending and expanding the container sizes for flexibility of both wine & spirits. Wine can now be in 25 different listed sizes between the range of smallest of 50mm up to 3 litres (and larger). One interesting note is the Vin Jaune (Yellow Wine) of late picked Savagnin grapes from the Jura region in France that traditionally was in the “Clavelin” 620 ml (21 ounces) oddball size is now allowed to be imported as such. Previously it was brought in legally only in 375 ml or 500 ml. Now we are able to enjoy more of that delicious Poulet au Vin Jaune du Jura (Chicken with Jura wine) in the true size container bottle!

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This Blog is full of information updating you on the current state of older wine vintages. Educational to learn how different regions and years have developed but of limited practical application for most younger wine consumers. You have to have been a wine collector for some time aging fine wines to get really passionately involved in many of my postings. Still interesting. However, there are lots of you more senior members of the IWFS out there who qualify. Wines used to be more reasonably priced on release to purchase and cellar but now most top wines are very expensive. Nowhere is this price increase more noticeable than with the limited production of Grand Cru & Premier Cru white Burgundy. You have to seek out Villages wines and from regions outside the core. Even then prices may be crazy. Received yesterday an email from Somm Cellars offering at $249.95 US a 2023 Meursault Villages AC Domaine Roulot excitingly using in the blend a good portion of the high elevation “Vireuils” (“lime-scented and intensely mineral nose”) – recommended previously for Benjamin Leroux on September 2, 2024 here. Lately your scribe has focused more on looking for white Burgundy at better values. Successfully found quite a few and list 5 of them for your consideration:

2022 BOURGOGNE HAUTES-CÔTES DE BEAUNE AU BOUT DU MONDE PIERRE-YVES COLIN-MOREY: This highly respected producer (like Roulot) often has better values for their wines from outlying regions. This 100% young replanted vines Chardonnay 12.5 abv from a single steep SW facing slope on limestone-clay at 400+ meters is intriguing. These previously cooler spots are now ripening better with climate change yet retaining more fresh acidity for better structure. Good bets. Waxed capsule.

2021 MONTHÉLIE “CUVÉE MISS ARMANDE” VIEILLES VIGNES DOUHAIRET-PORCHERET: Old fav. First visited this property in 1997 with the late marvellous friend Martine Saunier and still enjoying their elegant red 1995 Volnay 1er Cru En Champans in magnum. Monthelie whites are under the radar but this difficult year still produced a 13 abv bright stony energetic fresh cuvee named after Duhairet proprietor. Also check out the riper more weight 1er cru Les Duresses.

2021 PERNAND-VERGELESSES DOMAINE JEAN-BAPTISTE BOUDIER: Another under appreciated region for whites. This young talented winemaker carefully selects whole clusters from climats of Les Pins, Les Vignes Blanches, Decant les Cloux for this precise fresh reductive 13 abv lovely gem. Waxed capsule. A producer to put on your must watch list.

2020 SAINT-AUBIN 1ER CRU SUR GAMAY MARK HAISMA: Long time big fan for St. Aubin. Check out my August 19, 2024 link here. Just finished my last delicious bottle of 2016 from this same Sur Gamay vineyard by Henri Prudhon. Like the 2020s and this one at 13 abv shows full intensity with underlying balanced acidity. Still fair value for the top quality delivered. Mark Haisma has been popular at the BC LDB with several Burgundy listings.

2022 POUILLY-FUISSÉ 1ER CRU LE CLOS (MONOPOLE) CHÂTEAU-FUISSÉ FAMILLE VINCENT: Smart to seek out some good values in Pouilly-Fuisse now with 22 designated Premier Crus since the 2020 vintage. Hard to find one to top this wax capsuled old vines beauty at 14 abv. Le Clos is a walled enclosed area behind the Chateau on an east facing slope of limestone-clay soils with a unique terroir. Already recognized as outstanding with 97 point Best in Show rating in Decanter. Forwardly yellow look but rich ripe creamy nutty and a long finish but can age well as shown presently by the more evolved still fresh 2018 vintage. Famille Vincent describe 2022 as “complex wine with considerable ageing potential”. This is the new consumer friendly white Burgundy for enjoying and cellaring. Hop on board.

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Question: What are your thoughts Sid for this Summer on the best BBQ wines?

Answer: Yes, presently lots of hot weather for outdoor BBQ meals. Always a difficult one to decide on your wine choices but it shouldn’t be a problem. Choose something easy and more reasonably priced that you always enjoy. Also depends somewhat on whether you are cooking smoked meats or fish or vegetables for a better matching. Your scribe answered this question here of “What wines go best with BBQ” on July 2, 2014 over 10 years ago. Lots of choices for a poll then but the popular winner was California Zinfandel. That is unlikely to be the result today. Gamay, Syrah, Malbec, Dolcetto, Rose and even lighter British Columbia Cab Franc are likely to be well supported. However, remember that the current wine fashion is for more white, more Sparkling, lower alcohol, and anything chilled at a cooler temperature – especially for Summer. Sparkling works well but I would consider Albarino. Some good choices include Terravista Vineyards from BC and two from Rias Baixas in Galicia Spain of fresh herbal 2023 Zarate & juicy fuller 2022 Lagar de Cervera. Don’t forget the possibility of exotic white pepper Gruner Veltliner from BC (Culmina “Unicus”, O’Rourke’s Peak Cellars, or Fort Berens) or classic Austrian – look for Brudlmayer or Schloss Gobelsburg. Enjoy.

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As long time followers of this Blog are aware your scribe with lots of learning experience is a passionate admirer of Chablis. Many postings including links here of August 28, 2023, June 1, 2020, and September 4, 2017. The first two provide vintage assessments back to 2007 and the last one describes the Grand Cru vineyards in some detail with the fine distinctions between them. Two years ago at the Vancouver Tastevin Paulee many fine examples with the 2014 Les Clos Domaine Christian Moreau (DCM) edging out 2020 Moutonne Long-Depaquit & 2010 Les Clos Domaine William Fevre (DWF). An exciting Summer event on July 29, 2025 at Blue Water Cafe of the Vancouver Group of Eight with spouses provided another opportunity for a Chablis Les Clos Grand Cru vertical update. Some impressions on the two flights served plus 3 other vintages of Les Clos DCM tasted this past month totalling 11 notes:

We started with an exquisite 2012 LOUIS ROEDERER CRISTAL ROSE CHAMPAGNE of 56PN/44C with 15% oak ferment & saignee method colour on a perfect plateau rounded and silky full rich body with delicate finesse + class. We finished with 1983 CHATEAU BRANE-CANTENAC MARGAUX better than their 1982 with mature open complex bouquet but drying with prominent acidity on the finish more welcome when paired with a superb chicken supreme course. Also dark gold 1990 CHATEAU RIEUSSEC SAUTERNES  forwardly apricot honey sweet and powerful – almost very ripe peaches like the appropriate dessert.

2022 CHABLIS LES CLOS DCM: Young look with clean fresh more Macon-like Chardonnay fruit. Excellent but softer juicier rounder textures than the old classic vintages coming together more forwardly with less apparent high acidity. Easy & delightful already but with some future. Consumer friendly. Buy 2022 instead of riper large crop 2023 & less successful 2024. 2023 had more Summer rains than 2022 with more potassium in the grapes that increases the pH therefore with less typical Chablis distinctive acidity tartness.

2016 CHABLIS LES CLOS DCM: Frost & hail issues. Bottle variation with one showing pre-mox and the other better but still needed to drink currently. Ready to enjoy now from a mixed variable year.

2014 CHABLIS LES CLOS DCM: Brilliant green tinged so bright and vibrant. Still so young and balanced. Pure intriguing mineral complex bouquet just starting to develop. Outstanding structure and long aging potential with finesse & delicacy. Clearly the wine of the flight. Not convinced Raveneau or Dauvissat is better than this. What a vintage! What a wine!

2005 CHABLIS LES CLOS DCM: Full excellent year is better for Burgundy reds than whites. Bottle variation here too. One maderizing but other drinking on a beautiful aged mature plateau but lacks the energy vigour zip of unique best Grand Cru Chablis.

2020 CHABLIS LES CLOS MAISON JOSEPH DROUHIN-VAUDON: Deeper darker look yet balanced but seems “sweeter” in style than the others. Prefer 2020 DCM over this showing more structure and balance.

2014 CHABLIS LES CLOS DWF: That 2014 vintage is again sensational here. Fun to compare with the 2014 DCM. Similar young look. This has less nose but a fuller richer body but perhaps less elegant. Both great indeed for unlimited exciting future development turning into the best Chablis vintage ever! Patience required for top award.

2012 CHABLIS LES CLOS DOMAINE LAROCHE: Unusual odd skunk cabbage or cider apple juice nose. Strange, unattractive and outclassed here. Big fan of Michel Laroche & his wife Gwenael old Chablis but sold the Domaine Laroche in 2010. There are much better wines being produced by DL over the last 10 years.

2010 CHABLIS LES CLOS DWF: Younger colour than 2020 & 2012 but more yellow than 2014. Open complex true Les Clos bouquet impresses. Intense perfection. These two bottles of the reduced crop 2010 have really developed and reached a higher level than 2 years ago now at 15 years of age while 2014 is still more closed in and slowly advancing. This was a deserving group favourite for tonight. Delicious.

2015 CHABLIS LES CLOS DCM: Hail storm September 1st complicated the harvest. Always enjoy this wine as it is so full, rich and ready. Super bottle on July 31 with fresh Alaska Sockeye Salmon steak was a marvellous matching. Way better than 2016. Not the steely acidity of 2014 or liveliness of 2017 but should hold on this wonderful high plateau for some time. Enjoy.

2012 CHABLIS LES CLOS DCM: Late flowering and dry Summer with harvest rains. Good structure. Your scribe has been drinking 2012 up over the past two years with pleasure but not in the same class of 2014 or 2010.

2010 CHABLIS LES CLOS DCM: Another beauty having the advantage of vintage age over the other younger ones. Shows off the well situated prized site of stones + white clay (very little marl) with dense Kimmeridgian limestone. Close in quality to the wonderful DWF and both capture that special Les Clos mineral terroir combining power with acidity balance. Only in Chablis! My two fav vintages of 2014 & 2010 shine brightly yet again! What a treat.

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Question: Would you kindly recommend an interesting Rosé for me to drink this Summer?

Answer: So many choices and not sure what is readily available in your market. The traditional Provence style ones usually work well showing that defined lighter pink look with a dry delicate fruit style. Your scribe believes an important characteristic of Rosés is to be charming. A couple of the better ones I have tasted in the last month are both 2024 Crafted in British Columbia wines from Washington State grapes. The Bartier Brothers Pristine label Rosé 2024 (2800 cases) a 4 grape blend but mostly cabernet sauvignon (94%) fits that style at an excellent $18 value. My fav with more colour is the Moon Curser Confiscated Rosé of 100% Pinot Noir ripe grapes (24.3 Brix) grown at high elevation (1300-1500 feet) on the Clos CheValle Vineyard-Lake Chelan Washington State retaining good acidity with no malolactic fermentation. Only 473 cases produced of this dry subtle delicacy showing the true grape variety with balance is delicious on its own plus well suited for many appropriate food pairings. Recommended.

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