When are certain vintages "released"?

[Thomas]

In my opinion, vintages matter, Spectator ratings do not. To add to your question: is there a difference between an 89 and a 90? Some trophy wine buyers won't touch a wine that does not rate 90 or above--plain stupid.

There are good vintages, bad vintages and mediocre vintages. A winemaker can either benefit from or screw up a good vintage, enhance or get in line with a mediocre vintage, and mostly do very little good with a bad vintage. But all said, the wine you like is the one you like--vintage and rating be damned!