96 Pt. Ratings in WS for SB

WINE TALK
1

Haven’t seen this in quite a while. 96 points for Merry Edwards Sauv. Blanc, and 93 points for Phelps Sauv. Blanc. both rated by MaryAnn Worobiec.

Don’t think Laube would have rated these wines this high.

Curious what others think about this.

2

96 points? Solid wine but not even close to perfection. Another WS reviewer bites the dust.

3

Recently I had a SB and Semillion blend from Jonata that was out of this world. I would definitely give it a 96 in my book. Will order 6 since they have sent out an emailer a few days ago. And will do so despite the $60 price tag.

4

I have no issue with a SB garnering 96 points. It’s just interesting to me to see the difference of point scale with the WS tasting staff. What I read in it is MaryAnn Worobiec’s 96 point wine is James Laube 90 point wine. It’s just what I’ve seen with Sauv. Blanc ratings between the two. And I don’t believe it’s a vintage thing.

Just caught my attention, that’s all.

5

she’s the Jay Miller of WS!

6

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7

isnt this stuff like $50 a bottle?

8

I had it in Houston a few months back, and it is hands down the best domestic SB I have ever tasted. 96 pts is arbitrary since there isn’t a real benchmark for a score that high from the US…but, it is pretty awesome juice.

9

I recently had one of the ME sav blancs (two left). Like people have said, numbers are totally arbitrary, but I thought it was very good. I like my Sav. Blancs a little more tart than this was, but a great bottle of wine.

Tyler - they weren’t that expensive on release, but locally they are hard to find so yeah, I paid $45 I think. There are more where that came from (not many though)

10

[quote=“zachary l a n g”]I recently had one of the ME sav blancs (two left). Like people have said, numbers are totally arbitrary, but I thought it was very good. I like my Sav. Blancs a little more tart than this was, but a great bottle of wine.

Ditto.

JD

11

Tru dat!

As for scoring being arbitrary…hogwash. Its a wine close to perfection or it isn’t. I don’t care what other folks are doing from the region or with the variety.
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12

I love the fiddlehead sav blancs, but can never find them around here! hint hint hint

13

So if a wine you’re tasting was close to perfection, wouldn’t you want your senior tasters to put their stamp on it? How many people are paying attention to who is rating the wine? I think very few outside of industry. Again, not taking anything away from MaryAnn Worobiec and her rating system. I’m just saying a 96pt. SB for $29 retail from the WS is going to get some reaction when I see what Laube has rated SB’s in the past, and they’re no where near that high (and they may be good if not better, IMO).

Come on…feed the fire folks. Intersted in who is really looking at the initials of the rater(and does it matter) in these publications.

BTW Philip, it was the '07 vintage RRV SB.

14

I agree with a low 90s score on this (91?). I have had it at the ME tasting room and at a restaurant. This is a SB for the Chardonnay crowd. Aged in about 20% new oak. I don’t know how much undergoes malolactic. It’s good, but I did not have the urge to buy it. If I want an SB, I will go for a $10-15 NZ SB.

15

[rofl.gif]

16

I definitely detected the oak softening. Rounds out the middle tapering off the edges some. I prefer edgier SB’s where the acidity and minerality are allowed to speak loudest though this is a good wine for the style.

17

For the record, as far as WS reviewers go:

MaryAnn Worobiec: 96 pts (blind)
James Laube: >93 pts (informal blind tasting)
Thomas Matthews: 93 pts (non-blind)

http://www.merryedwards.com/about_the_wines/accolades/sauvblanc_2007.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

18

No worries! Like I said, I thought this was a good wine. Although crisp and acidic compared to some white wines, it is much softer than most NZ SBs. I did not criticize your palate, just giving my own impressions. FWIW, I enjoyed this wine but I was not blown away, which I would expect for a 96 pointer. As Randy on AI would say-- it was just ok for me, dawg.

19

i think there are producers exploring Napa/Sonoma SB in way far from NZ and likely designed to appeal to “traditional” American white wine drinkers. myself, i am not a cat-piss guy or usually one who appreciates the “wang” of that bracing acidity NZ SB often portrays. i have liked JRochioli’s SB and definitely admire what Abe does @ Scholium Project. Lail Georgia is now really pricey but has been a favorite of mine in past vintages while barely resembling NZ SB.

20

I was with Robert at the tasting and found it excellent as well. I have grown tired of the bracing acidity of NZ SB, so I guess it is palate preference. I just found the wine wonderfully enjoyable.

Interestingly, I had the opportunity to serve this wine relatively blind to JM Cazes of Lynch Bages a week earlier and without prompting he spoke up and remarked about how well made this wine was. It was the only white that made an impression on him.

To each his own, but I like it.