Maybe I'm weird, but...

[Botafogo]

>>What I said was that there is a quality that is proven in the Lafites, Latours, and Moutons of the world. You can try to dismiss them as much as you want but they are the benchmark against which ALL wines are judged. Not by the Parkers and Speculators, but the buying public. <<<

Verne, 80-90% of "the buying public" has never heard of EITHER Mr. Parker or First Growth Bordeauxs. Unfortunately, the standards they use are neither scores or classifications but how much TV and Radio advertising a wines has and thus Beringer, Fetzer, Santa Margharita, Korbel, Kendall Jackson, Clos du Bois and other such crap is the standard. Of the remaining 10-20% the prevailing standard seems to be Silver Oak and Sonoma Cutrer primarily due to heavy restaurant placements.

It's sad buddy but people like you and me who have a context and a broad tasting base to compare to aren't even the dust mite on the flea on the dog's arse...

The real world is VERY differnt than what goes on at friday afternoon tasting groups. Roberto