Point it at a bottle. Winey tells you what it’s worth and whether to buy it at that price.

Is blouge a real wine style?

It’s a real practice with a new name – red and white grapes fermented or blended together. No legal definition, no single style.

Is blouge just rosé?

No. Rosé is usually red grapes only, with brief skin contact. Blouge involves white grapes too, and often tastes more like a light red than a pink.

Should I age it?

No. Drink it cold, drink it this year.

Is 2026 the earliest harvest ever in Burgundy?

For actual picking, it beat 2020 by one day. The 1556 figure is a record for the official permission date, not for picking.

Is 2026 the earliest ever in Bordeaux?

No. The Bordeaux wine council says 1893 was earlier.

Does an early, hot harvest mean bad wine?

It means uneven wine – riper, softer, stronger and more variable between producers. Some of it will be very good.

Should I buy 2026 futures?

Not on a headline. Wait for the 8 September estimate, then wait for names.

Can the alcohol on the label be wrong?

Legally, yes: up to 1.5 points either way in the US for wines at or under 14 percent, one point above that, half a point in the EU and 0.8 for its sparkling, fortified and long-aged bottles.

Does “2022” mean all the wine is from 2022?

No. At least 95 percent for an American appellation, 85 for a state or country, 85 in the EU.

Does “Cabernet Sauvignon” mean it’s all Cabernet?

At least 75 percent in the US, 85 in the EU.

Does “reserve” mean anything?

Not in the United States. “Estate bottled” does.