Comments on: Massive wine competitions are O.K., but there are problems

By: Tasting Sonoma

Tasting Sonoma — Sun, 23 May 2010 01:45:25 +0000

I agree on most of your points. But wine competitions can help sift through the huge number of wines out there. I may not get the best wine buying BOC, but its probably better than the average.

By: Pete

Pete — Wed, 25 Feb 2009 17:40:23 +0000

Thanks for the reply, Steve. Since asking the questions of you I found an earlier post in which you talked extensively about your tasting methodology, so I appreciate you putting up with my tiresome questions.

By: Morton Leslie

Morton Leslie — Wed, 25 Feb 2009 04:21:41 +0000

People who review wines particularly those who can affect the success or lack thereof of a winery, owe it to all of us to taste blind. I know how hard that is, but the power of the human brain and the power of suggestion is just too much for any individual to counteract. My guess is the knowing the label throws 30 or 40% error into any sensory evaluation…stronger than the placebo effect in medicine.

I personally don’t care if the big names get the recognition. I have had my share. But the struggling small winery in a unappreciated region or the corporate winery with ineffective marketing and public relations, but who have a talented young winemaker who is doing great things need to be tasted in the same context as everyone else.

A persons success as a critic may have little to do with accuracy or truth, but may be more to do with posturing, public relations, or a bogus scoring scheme that implies an ordered regimen. But the industry deserves a higher standard of profession conduct among people who are not part of it, but have a strong affect upon it.

Any judgment of quality must be done without prejudice. Any judge who does not take strong measures to avoid prejudice should really take a look at themselves in the mirror. I mean, what is it all about?

By: Paul in Boca Raton

Paul in Boca Raton — Wed, 25 Feb 2009 03:38:19 +0000

Much ado about nothing. I have been selling wine at both the wholesale and supplier level since 1983, and “this medal” or “that trophy” or “this score”, unless you are the WS or Parker, doesn’t mean squat. The challenge we have, as professionals selling in this business, is to wean buyers and consumers off the WS/P ratings, and teach them to trust their local independent wine shop experts. IMO, that is our most significant challenge.

By: steve

steve — Tue, 24 Feb 2009 23:08:30 +0000

Pete, sometimes I taste blind and sometimes I don’t and that’s the goldarned truth…same as it is with most if not all of the wine writers with whom I’m familiar, including you-know-who and what’s-his-name. I do taste alone 99% of the time. The exceptions are at a trade event or with a winemaker, but I almost never review & rate wines unless I’m doing it alone, with my regular routine. Occasionally I’ll have someone set me up with a big tasting when I’m on the road, but even then, I’m tasting alone.