tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6677155356733403823.post3741459333356451379..comments2023-03-22T08:04:31.667-06:00Comments on Colorado Wine Press: On the blind tasting bandwagonkschlachhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12810309689429676303noreply@blogger.comBlogger9125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6677155356733403823.post-80346428762212983752012-09-04T17:20:37.193-06:002012-09-04T17:20:37.193-06:00Thomas, thank you for adding to the discussion. I ...Thomas, thank you for adding to the discussion. I absolutely agree that vintage and variety can often be valuable information for a "blinded" taster. Appellation is a bit trickier. If classified and non-classified Bordeaux are tasted together (as you've noted elsewhere), then this makes sense. But if only First Growths and maybe "Super Seconds" are tasted together (and made known to the critic), too much bias is introduced into the system. The same can be said when knowingly tasting only less heralded regions/appellations, such as with Colorado or Long Island.<br /><br />As for the "stories versus scores," it most definitely doesn't have to be either/or! In the current state of our industry, both are important and valid approaches. I happen to personally gravitate to the story end of the spectrum, but there are many people who feel that the number is the most important characteristic. I think that WS does a good job of balance both and publishing stories on many different regions. I enjoyed Ben O'Donnell's piece on Long Island wines. I hope to post my thoughts later this week. As you say, "Connecting the wine in the glass to its origins is one of the glories of wine itself." I'd add that thoughtfully discussing the qualities of wine is another. Thanks again for sharing!kschlachhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12810309689429676303noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6677155356733403823.post-20531247850452989912012-09-04T13:56:35.548-06:002012-09-04T13:56:35.548-06:00Sorry I meant WS not WA (I think it was a spell ch...Sorry I meant WS not WA (I think it was a spell check issue) and you are spot on as to the “blind” tasting of say 10 $100+ Napa wines not being blind ;)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6677155356733403823.post-56181400757411937532012-09-04T12:36:55.215-06:002012-09-04T12:36:55.215-06:00Kyle,
As you point out in this articulate column,...Kyle,<br /><br />As you point out in this articulate column, there are many ways to taste, depending on your goals, and there are differing approaches to tasting "blind." <br /><br />At Wine Spectator, we believe, as you do, that "blinding" the taster to producer and price is crucial to eliminating the most powerful sources of bias. But we also believe that typicity is an important element in wine quality, so we do reveal vintage, appellation and, where relevant, grape variety. Clearly, these decisions can be debated, but they are based on long experience. (I would note, however, that we never organize a flight of wines "over $75" or in any stated price range.)<br /><br />There is definitely a debate going on over the merits of differing tasting approaches. It would seem to me that advocates of blind tasting would applaud our methodology. For some reason, that doesn't always seem to be the case.<br /><br />As for "stories versus scores," why does it have to be either/or? We publish both wine reviews and reported stories about winemakers, regions and styles. Connecting the wine in the glass to its origins is one of the glories of wine itself.<br /><br />Thanks for tackling this important subject.<br /><br />Thomas Matthews<br />Executive editor<br />Wine SpectatorThomas Matthewshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16481459344277909720noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6677155356733403823.post-1501504493163930392012-08-30T13:48:26.422-06:002012-08-30T13:48:26.422-06:00Lee, I never brought the WA guys into the conversa...Lee, I never brought the WA guys into the conversation (I assume you meant WS). Obviously, blind tasting only one winery's wines at the winery is not a rigorous method for giving scores. It might make sense for ascertaining vintage characteristics, but you do know what you are tasting, just not a vintage or vineyard/blend depending on the winery. Again, I have no problem tasting wines in a non-blind setting. My issue is when one says they're tasting blind and are actually not doing so. Credibility is the issue, but both methods are useful. Please read Dave McIntyre's comment on Blake's post. I really like his distinction between writers and critics. Stories vs scores.ColoradoWinePresshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02252669399049824485noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6677155356733403823.post-1492047565994664452012-08-30T13:31:57.474-06:002012-08-30T13:31:57.474-06:00Blind tasting as per a WSET Diploma or MW program ...Blind tasting as per a WSET Diploma or MW program is difficult and a challenge but fair. The single blind method as you described isn’t blind it’s a dog and pony show, and bringing the WA guys into it is odd, as often they are sitting in the Lafite/Mouton/ Petrus wine tasting rooms, so they know where they are and what they are tasting. I like Dr. B. Lewin MW attitude, he scores wines very fairly, none blind but prefers as you do to taste them with a meal to really get a sense of the wine as it evolves from opening over the time the meal takes, as you know this is the way to score wines ;)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6677155356733403823.post-81594652788335001252012-08-30T09:21:10.151-06:002012-08-30T09:21:10.151-06:00Both blind and categorized tastings have their pla...Both blind and categorized tastings have their place.<br /><br />To apply a permanent set of rules to tasting and scoring wines does not make any sense. If a wine costs $100.00 dollars and tastes like a $50.00 wine, then I want to know that. The resulting scores are OPINIONS of people who are supposed to be professional enough to be able to also state what styles they prefer and why. <br /><br />Being a wine writer or critic does not place that person in a category with scientific truth or biblical prophecy. <br /><br />GDFOAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6677155356733403823.post-9480589845314314102012-08-29T11:58:31.258-06:002012-08-29T11:58:31.258-06:00hmmm.. I like to try wines from different places t...hmmm.. I like to try wines from different places that I have not yet tasted. We just came back from a Wine Bloggers Conference where we had a "Night of Many Bottles". People brought wine from all over. I did bring 4 Colorado Wines. I did get one person say he really enjoyed them.. He probably did what I did and that was pick wines from other states other than California. Not to say California wines are not good, but let's face it... I really wanted to see what Florida had to offer. Sometimes you will be surprised by a little treasure you find. Don't go in with preconceived notions about something and you can only be surprised.<br />Price has no bearing on whether the wine is good or bad.. Too bad that the only way Colorado Wines can win a competition is to be blind tasted.. Give them a try as well as other states... You will be pleasantly surprised.WineyWomenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06798309989886893395noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6677155356733403823.post-49528356030813344912012-08-29T09:50:20.299-06:002012-08-29T09:50:20.299-06:00So your first name is W? Do you go by W or do you ...So your first name is W? Do you go by W or do you go by Blake. If you go by Blake, why keep the W? Does the W stand for Willard? Please tell me it does! W. Mitt Romney. W. Blake Gray. Hmmm. Thanks for reading and thanks for commenting! I'm looking forward to your WS blind tasting tome.ColoradoWinePresshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02252669399049824485noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6677155356733403823.post-71497388900577875782012-08-29T08:42:10.729-06:002012-08-29T08:42:10.729-06:00Kyle: Why not? It's my name.
Let's W.Kyle: Why not? It's my name. <br /><br />Let's W.W. Blake Grayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17755307711801965966noreply@blogger.com