Comments for Just Grapes

Comment on B.C. Wine and the Ideology of Quality by Weston

Weston — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 03:51:19 +0000

I agree in that a straight Point system with no written note does give you nothing, but the same as saying this has “Red Cherry, Earth, etc etc” doesnt tell me if its good or balanced, combined with a score it should tell ya if the wine is pretty darn good or bad or medicore, I mean as long as people explain the wine and if they like or dislike it and why im fine, but you need to say ie “This is terribly balanced, with red fruit, earth, leather etc etc”

Comment on Spotlight on Spain: Alejandro Fernandez Condado de Haza 2005 by Weston

Weston — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 03:49:01 +0000

Bierzo, now that is one Region I can get behind

Comment on Winery Profile: Vega-Sicilia by Spotlight on Spain: Alejandro Fernandez Condado de Haza 2005 « Just Grapes

Spotlight on Spain: Alejandro Fernandez Condado de Haza 2005 « Just Grapes — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 03:48:36 +0000

[...] last 20 years the region has completely reinvented itself, led by the venerable Vega Sicilia (see my profile of this famous estate), who set out to prove the region could make wines comparable to the best in France. While Vega [...]

Comment on B.C. Wine and the Ideology of Quality by Shea

Shea — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 17:17:56 +0000

Celia,

I like the analogy and I too have a tremendous amount of respect for those with integrity and the courage to follow it up. Perhaps this is a common theme for most areas of life – I could also have called this piece the Integrity Deficit.

Comment on B.C. Wine and the Ideology of Quality by Celia

Celia — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 01:53:30 +0000

I am glad that you reference the most basic of human needs in relation to the wine industry: survival. I don’t aspire to become a winemaker for the same reason that I don’t aspire to become a politician; inevitably the vast majority become more concerned with self preservation than with effecting change. That and I fear I would only make plonk!

I have a great deal of respect for those that do attempt to effect change, but given a number of provincial factors (pun intended) they are understandably too few and far between.

Comment on My Top Wines of 2009 by esquin

esquin — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 20:11:54 +0000

[...] … Esquin Wine Merchants is the Culinary Fool's favorite wine store in Seattlebut not by much. …My Top Wines of 2009 Just Grapes20 at Esquin. 7. Pascal Cotat La Grande Cote Sancerre 2006. Another wine from the Loire? … Name [...]

Comment on B.C. Wine and the Ideology of Quality by Shea

Shea — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 19:53:07 +0000

Weston,

Thanks for the comment. I agree that bias happens in all sorts of ways. Free samples aren’t a big deal to me, but that’s mainly because I’m independent from the industry. However, accepting free stuff as a journalist can go too far. What is a winery pays for your visit to a country’s wine region. That’s a pretty big cause for concern re: bias.

As for points – the problem is that they tell you nothing about the wine. NOTHING. I learn nothing from reading points. I see ratings as reading aids, not difinitive guides. They help give context to a review, but they aren’t the end point or purpose. I’ve considered nixing them myself, and may do so in the future. In the end, I find ratings stifle my expression and do little to help others learn and think about wine.

Comment on B.C. Wine and the Ideology of Quality by Weston

Weston — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 19:45:41 +0000

Interesting and well written, but from you I would expect that hah.

I have no problem with reviews receiving free samples. All reviews should say on every wine they are reviewing, if they paid for it, or if its free. People will say because its free you will be Biased, but if you buy a wine you like and review then are you not biased that way too?
And we know People love to complain at the end of the day

Yeah its so true, wine does make itself it needs human intervention and some coddling, or else you get not wine, vinegar or whatever else faults occur.

Can’t Believe no one was interested in the Biodynamic Guy [even tho I think some of the Biodynamic gets to hocky, but Quality! Come on people!]

I must say I have no problem with a Number Scoring System, I mean a system to rate wines, in the end they do the same thing, if i know Such and Such reviews palate and we agree or disagree and gives a wine a certain score I will know if its my style or not. When I rate wines for myself I score it based on what I feel the quality is, a 90pt wine to me might be a 99 or a 70 to someone else, or a 80pt wine to me will be a 90pt to someone else. As long as i am consistent and they are then its all good.

Comment on Southern Tier Hopsun Summer Wheat Beer by pesquera

pesquera — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 18:29:50 +0000

[...] time around are from Italy's big three, Tuscany, Veneto and Piedmont. Few wines wowed me, but as …Southern Tier Hopsun Summer Wheat Beer Just GrapesAlejandro Fernandez Tinto Pesquera Crianza 2005. Shmaltz Brewing Coney Island Human … No comments [...]

Comment on Champagne Day: Larmandier-Brunier “Terre de Vertus” Blanc de Blancs Premier Cru NV by Shea

Shea — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 23:54:52 +0000

Well the taxes here are crazy (117%) so I’m sure you will be able to find the Champagnes I write up for less than $100. Because of the taxes, there are very few sub-$100 grower champagnes here, but there are some. I will likely be featuring several.

Ha, I like your theory on the JR article – bubbly is already expensive enough!