Wine Asylum

Posted by mkuller (A) on September 30, 2009 at 20:52:22

...there are two big names in wine tasting - Robert Parker, The Wine Advocate and James Laube of Wine Spectator - both with their 100 point scales which are so influential as to change the styles of wine being produced.

So you don't want to support them, or don't agree with them, where do you go for impartial wine judging?

Maybe the regional and state competitions?

"A recent study of U.S. wine competitions has caused some consternation among competition organizers. The analysis by Robert T. Hodgson, published in the Journal of Wine Economics, found little consistency in the results of 13 competitions in 2003. Hodgson, a retired Humboldt State professor, found that of the roughly 2,400 wines entered in more than three competitions, 47 percent received at least one gold medal, but 98 percent of those same wines received no medal or a bronze — awarded to wines that are just above average — in at least one other competition. Hodgson concludes that "winning a gold medal is greatly influenced by chance alone."

The Los Angeles Times quoted the chairman of the Los Angeles County Fair's huge wine competition as calling the conclusion "hogwash." Robert Small defended the quality of his competition's judges and the results they reach.

I've judged a number of wine competitions, and Hodgson's analysis doesn't surprise me. I agree that the best competitions generally have high-caliber judges. But judges at many competitions are asked to evaluate more than 100 wines in a day. Palate fatigue invariably sets in. It's easy to see how a well-made wine could slip through the cracks or a less-than-stellar bottle could end up with a gold medal.

Wineries pay hefty fees to enter their wines, hoping for some recognition that will help them market their wines. Consumers would be well-advised to take any gold medal with a grain of salt."

• Laurie Daniel in the Contra Costa Times   (Open in New Window)