that knowledgeable , experienced reviewers that someone can follow and trust over years of recommendations , is very helpful .
In my opinion is it all comes down to where you purchased your wine . If you purchase your wine from a smaller independent wine shop ( which I highly recommend ), the wine stewards are your best friend . As they get to know your palate , they can curate their insightful recommendations to you personally . They have the luxury of tasting dozens of wines a week . The good ones remember each wine that will be a great suggestion for each client . The best part of a relationship like this is you will be exposed to new and exciting wines that you didn ’ t have to blindly purchase on a label , score , or price .
“ It all comes down to where you purchased your wine .”
“ Scores are not inherently bad , especially if you find a critic you relate to and rely less on overall companies .” was very helpful . Sean had some very honest and insightful takes on where we are currently in wine criticism . In Washington State alone there are over 10,000 different wines released every year . Now I love and taste a lot of wine a year but 10,000 is a LARGE number . Here is a great place where wine reviewers and scores can absolutely help the consumer avoid the pitfalls of buying less than desirable wines .
The sheer volume of wine a reviewer samples and reviews , allows the consumer to use the reviewer ’ s knowledge and expertise to guide their wine-buying decisions . But as Sean explained further , the current wine critic realm is quite fractured of late . Many major publication ’ s reviewers have been on their regional beat for a relatively short period of time , not enough time to have the full grasp of what the region truly has to offer . Even more so , there are many independent reviews and worse , so called “ wine influencers .” All of them have vastly different levels of experience and sometimes less than honest or authentic intentions other than collecting followers or making money . Sean still believes there is a place for the wine critic . I mean he is one , but he ’ s also a respected voice in the regional wine scene for many years . He echoed the sentiment
If you purchase more online or on email offers , which have become very popular in recent years , you may come to rely on those online vendors ’ access to wines from wider regions that you enjoy . You can also learn what their specialties are , how they depict wines , or how that relates to your journey and personal taste . This leads me back to wine reviewers and scores .
Although I think a score is somewhat limiting , I believe the tasting note tells you much more about the wine . The story of where it ’ s from , the details of how it ’ s made , and the actual flavors tasted that the wine presents , give you a detailed peek into what the wine is . Furthermore , I think finding a reviewer that has a similar palate to yours , who writes in a way that you enjoy and gravitates to wine that you love , has its benefits . The only caveat to that is , expanding your palate and exploring new regions and wine styles is a huge part of the wine journey and as such , following one reviewer will be limiting .
For me , the back label ( the importer ) is one of the more important and reliable places for wine recommendations . The importer travels around the world , meeting the winery owners and winemakers from all over the globe . They then champion those wines to retail outlets , wine bars , and restaurants in your area . You will find that an importer ends up having a style of wine that fits the dynamic of their selections . So , if you enjoy a few wines from
34 ART CHOWDER MAGAZINE