Many years ago, a relative turned 80 years old. When I asked her how she felt about it, she replied without hesitation, “It’s only a number, dear!”
Whenever many of us go into a wine shop, we are visually assaulted by ratings:
– The Wine Spectator scored this a…
– The Wine Enthusiast gives this a…
– Parker scored this a…
– Burghound rates this a…
Even I fall victim to this trap, giving many of my reviewed wines my “A”-“F” scores.
So what’s an enthusiastic shopper to do?
Most self-proclaimed wine authorities, I’ve found, fall into the same mold: They rate wines according to their own subjective parameters. We, as buyers, are expected to take this as gospel, when it often isn’t.
Very often, I’ve noticed that wines with high ratings feel justified in charging more money. We as consumers are often victimized by this well-intended behavior.
Here are my suggestions, given today’s options and wine-buying environment:
1. Define what you like or which application is appropriate for the wine you are buying. Do you like (or feel like having) Cabernet, Chardonnay, Gewurztraminer, Gruner Veltiner, Pinot Noir (or its sibling, Burgundy), Syrah or Zinfandel? It’s often helpful to slowly work your way through these varietals, noting and appreciating the qualities of each wine as well as their matches with food.
2. Get “married” to a winemaker or winery that you particularly enjoy. Stylistically, their wines will tend to maintain those qualities from year to year.
3. Work with a trusted and educated wine merchant (not necessarily at a supermarket) who can tactfully guide you through your shopping preferences and even suggest good wine and food pairings. Make certain that they have personally tasted the wines and are not following ratings. Offhand, I’d recommend dealing with Consumer Beverage Outlet in Hales Corners, Discount Liquor, Downer Wines, Grasch’s, Sendik’s and Waterford Wines on Brady Street. Eileen at Kafevino is another sharpie. Remember, you are shopping to make your own wining and dining experience satisfying, not to justify some lofty, self-proclaimed wine snob. Snobbery is an odious habit.
Cheers to you! A Votre Sante! Have fun!
