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Subject: Critics you trust:

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Hurst

Grape Truck Driver
Posts:25

11/08/2006 2:56 AM
Hello everyone, I'm fairly (2 posts) new to this forum, and somewhat new to quality wine. I'm fairly young (21) but very passionate about this new direction my life has taken (gastronomy and wine). With that being said, I've been trying to accrue a good amount of information on wines and such to make the most of my money (when I have it). Based upon what little I've known, I've made some basic judgements about wine critics and their ratings: WineSpectator- somewhat liberal and across the board with their ratings. I feel like they might inflate some ratings for wines they want to push and are way too liberal...I don't get consistancy and I often disagree with their sentiments... Robert Parker- I must admit, I've been somewhat influenced on my perspective of his reviews via Jonathan Nossiter's Mondovino as well as the litany of criticism on the wine giant. Most of it claims that Parker favors fruit bomb California style wines and thusly, the wine industry has seemed to bent to his tastes (kind of like a monopsony?). I find his tasting notes to be very accurate and quite helpful, but his ratings I'm not super sure about? Then again, I really haven't delved into a lot of the high end wines, so I should reserve judgement The Wine Doctor- I like his review format and his taste most of the time strikes well with me. His website also has a pleathora of relavant information. With that being said, what critics do you guys (who have far more experience than I) trust? It doesn't have to be professional, since we have tasting notes on this website, you can single out members of the community Thanks

LC17SMP

Barrel Filler
Posts:1052

11/08/2006 6:35 AM
Welcome to VC Hurst. Wine critics are pretty helpful if you have tasted enough wines to figure out what they like and how it compares to your style. For example, I really like Parkers red (cab, merlot) ratings a majority of the time and like the WS ratings on cali chard most of the time. However if I had to buy without knowing how my palate aligned with any of the critics I would buy based on the recomendations of VC and Cellartracker. Also, where do you live? Wine shops can be a great help when it comes to discovering new wines.

LC17SMP

Serge Dracula Slayer User is Offline

South Florida

Grape Fermenter
Posts:663

11/08/2006 12:51 PM
My all time favorite is Daniel Rogov. http://stratsplace.zeroforum.com/zeroforum?id=1 He is the ONLY professional wine/food critic I know who answers requests for TN within minutes/hours on his board and doesn't charge any money for it. Yesterday he helped me with buying decission and his palate is very close to mine as far as Bordeaux and Burgundies are concerned.

http://NothingControversial.com

rjs3

Barrel Filler
Posts:1121

11/08/2006 6:50 PM
Could you please post a link for the wine doctor?

Winetex

Austin, Texas

Master of Wine
Posts:10373

11/08/2006 7:03 PM
The critics that most align with my palate and thus I consider wines that they recommend are: Stephen Tanzer (International Wine Cellar) all around but really like his Burgundy Champagne and Italy reviews Burghound for Burgundy - incredibly comprehensive and appears to be consistent I also receive the Wine Advocate, Wine Spectator and the Piedmont Report before Galloni joined the Wine Advocate. I use triangulation - if the reviews are consistent among several reviewers then I can make a guess whether I should buy a wine or not without tasting. Probably some of the best non-professional wine reviewers on on this board. So many people on the board extensively travel to wine regions and report their experiences. Their opinions are very important in my buying decisions. For example one person, Futronic, travels to Italy and tastes wines way before the professional critics report on it. I've tasted wine enough times with him at different events to know that our palates are very similar. When he really likes a wine it goes on my short list to research. And so many other people on VinoCellar (and the other boards) are great resources.

Hurst

Grape Truck Driver
Posts:25

11/08/2006 10:43 PM
Quote: Could you please post a link for the wine doctor? http://www.thewinedoctor.com/ ------- Re Winetex: I think your triangulation method sounds very apt. I have also began to read some of Tanzer's reviews on wineaccess, when just browsing through wines. Haven't had a chance to match his taste to mine. I agree though, this forum has a plethora of information! I'm loving it

Winetex

Austin, Texas

Master of Wine
Posts:10373

11/08/2006 10:55 PM
Hurst - this is maybe an overgeneralization but Tanzer does not care for over the top, overly alcholic and/or oaky wines. He might rate them decently but will comment about those characteristics. Balance is one of his key areas for evaluation.

whiner

Second star to the right, and straight on till morning

Wine Thief
Posts:2867

11/10/2006 10:06 AM
The professionals I trust the most are Steven Tanzer (IWC) and David Schildknecht (WA - German). Then Parker. I don't pay much attention to WS but when something scores 96+ there I take notice. That said, I'd buy based upon a TN from winetex or jasonh or futronic or DJ Hombre or DRAB (other boards) or several others on these board before any professional reviewer. To be honest, I've had wine with jaimetown enough times to know how in sync our palates are and he would probably be my first resource.

I can't listen to that much Wagner. I start getting the urge to conquer Poland. -- Woody Allen

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