Comments on: Why do some of the cultiest of the cults never send me wine?

By: Benaccetto

Benaccetto — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 09:44:39 +0000

I think that one of the overlooked points here is that cult wines are often small producers and almost as often reasonably inconsistent. It may be true that there will occasionally be stinkers, but they are offset by the heights that are achieved when the wines truly hit. To gain consistency from year to year the big producers play it safe and make conservative wines to deliver what is expected. This works right into the hands of critics who need to have that same consistency in order to build THEIR following. People y
that become attached to cult wines are willing to put up with a larger degree of inconsistency to experience the pinacles whereas most critics (and larger mainstream wineries) need a higher level of certainty.

By: Tom

Tom — Sat, 29 Aug 2009 20:53:11 +0000

What a nice idea to talk about this topic. In my experience wine producers have 3 main reasons for degustation:
1. They want to sell (most)
2. They want high score degustation notes and select and prepare the testers before they arrange a degustation. No surprises. (Exist more than I thought)
3. They want feedback and develop. They want to discuss and close relationship with their customers. (I like them most)

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Best Wine Blog Posts for July 3rd through July 30th | Winecast — Mon, 03 Aug 2009 00:55:20 +0000

[...] Why do some of the cultiest of the cults never send me wine? [...]

By: steve

steve — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 14:03:10 +0000

Larry, I don’t know how vintners make these decisions. I suppose each has a different theory. Some people tell me they send me wines, but that they won’t send anything to Spectator. I’m sure it’s vice versa in other cases. I guess you just have to do what you think is best.

By: Larry Stanton

Larry Stanton — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 06:30:50 +0000

I must be pretty stupid, but what happens if a vintner sends wines to both Parker and Heimoff? Do they both rate them, or if both taste brand X, is it because one or the other went out and bought brand X to rate? Steve, do some vintners send their wines around to WE and WS or is that bad manners/ format/ stupidity? You asked how come you don’t taste Marcassins, but i am wondering isn’t it more likely one person cannot taste all wines, so different wineries send some wines to WS and others send to WE? Could you tell me what is etiquette re: vintners sending wine to a critic? I assumed if one sends you their wines, they aren’t going to go and send them to the competition… or are they? Thanks, and pardon my ignorance.