Wine Ratings

[Oenotheque]

I will take the contrarian stand since beating up Bobbo and Laube is so overplayed. I think wine ratings are a great guide for what to try just not necessarily what to like. I have had high scoring wines that I didnt really care for (2004 Crocker & Starr SB, 94ptsWS) and I have some favorites that have scored low among the critics (1997 Grgich Cab 87WS I believe).

Lets face it we could never try all the wines, I think that the critics can be a good guide for wines to try and wines to avoid. When one is building their pallate and vernacular it doesnt make much sense to just blindfold dartboard it and grab a bottle.

Another element is that as your exposure and palate grows, you may find that you consistently disagree with a wine taster regarding a particular wine or varietal. This can also be of value because you just operate in direct opposition.

Best idea before I have to claim this a novella would be go out and get 3 90 pointers of a varietal and taste them all blind. Let the wine develop your palate not the score.

Happy Hunting!