looking for wines where the critics really disagree

WINE TALK
1

I thought an interesting idea for a tasting would be to find wines where the critics really disagree. ie critic A gives a wine 99pts, and critic B gives the wine 75pts. Basically seeing if the critics are consistent and seeing how the tasters align themselves. In a perfect world it would be from the major reviewers but I’m open to most anything. Probably looking for at least a 10-15pt disparity.


if you can think of any please post them.


thanks


-paul

2

15 years past but the WS once gave the Italian Sommeliers Association wine of the year (a Sauvignon from Friuli) a 77.

3

2003 Pavie. Not a 15 point difference though.

4

If you convert some prominent Brit Crits’ descriptions of that hot mess to points you might get a 40 point difference… [snort.gif]

5

Marcassin Pinots.

Da Hound hates them…

TTT

6

I can’t give details but I recall that Parker recently (1-2 yrs) panned Steve Edmunds’ (Edmunds St John) wines. I suspect that Tanzer, John Gilman (View from the Cellar) and others did not agree.

7

I believe Parker gave approval to Gallo’s sweet red Apothic, did anyone else review it?

8

1990 Pichon Lalande, I think RMP gave it a 79, some others rated it in the 90s. Delicious wine, I think I paid $110 for one within the last year.

9

Did he really?!

10

09’ cos

11

Parker gave the 2010 88pts: Apothic’s 2010 Red Blend is slightly more serious. An 850,000-case blend of Zinfandel, Syrah, Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot, it was aged completely in tank. Big and fruity with a Rhone-like personality, it offers admirable purity, texture and length. Overall, it is a delicious, uncomplicated, straightforward, surprisingly intense, dry red to enjoy over the next year.

and the 07 87pts: I am breaking my own rules about only reviewing Napa wines in this report simply because this is one of the greatest bargains I have ever tasted from California. Made by the Gallo family, it is a blend of 45% Syrah, 44% Zinfandel, 9% Merlot, and 2% Cabernet Sauvignon that comes from primarily Lodi as well as Sonoma, the Central Coast, and Napa. Discounters will undoubtedly have it for even less than $10. A hedonist’s dream, this fruit-bomb exhibits loads of berry fruit, pepper, and spice, silky tannins, and an attractive mouthfeel. Neither heavy nor overly alcoholic, there are 15,000 cases of this beauty, which will provide enormous relief for weary, recession-challenged wine consumers. It should drink well for 1-2 years. Bravo to Gallo!

I have not had either wine, but 87-88pts doesn’t strike me as a wild success

-paul

12

this was the first one that jumps to mind for me, but there has got to be some big differences with WS. Maybe on montelena??

13

Not hugely mainstream, nor perhaps as large of a spread as you were looking for, but still a notable difference:

2004 Bodegas y Viñedos Montecastro Ribera del Duero Montecastro y Llanahermosa: WA94, IWC91, WS84.

We found it quite enjoyable when consumed this past September.

14

01 montelena WS rated 69pts; Parker initially rated it 94-96 in 8/02, then 96pts in 12/03, 95pts 2/05, and lastly 91+ in 6/11

15

WS has to be the hands-down winner for blown calls. It dealt the 1989 Giacosa Barolo Collina Rionda Riserva, a concensus 100-point wine if ever there was one (and it is one) and a wine that many consider to be the best Barolo ever made, a 78. The 1985 Giacosa Barbaresco Santo Stefano Riserva garnered a 77 (against a WA 97) and the 1990 Giacosa Barolo Falletto Riserva a 55+ (against a WA 98), but the 55+ appeared only in the annual book edition.) WS also dealt the 1971 G. Mascarello Monprivato an 81 (against a recent Galloni 94) and the 2001 Soldera Case Basse Brunello Riserva a 78 (against WA and Tanzer 96s). Until the 1982 vintage, WS never even evaluated Monfortino, and it has issued only 7 scores in the entire long and distinguished history of arguably the greatest single Barolo ever made, the last that I saw being the 2002 vintage. (I am guessing that ol’ Marv could not get any freebies to taste.) Is it any wonder that questions are raised about credibility? I do not think that they miss any scores on Mollydookers, though…

16

Parker pans Mount Mary Quintet, and I believe it’s highly regarded by other reviewers (but don’t have access to the scores). Australians certainly count it among their best (when on form).

17

Yes, forgot about the Giacosa. That issue came out the DAY that Bruno was presenting some of those wines at Drago here in Santa Monica. Big laughs all 'round…

18

2006 Cayuse God Only Knows
WA: 97pts WS: 86pts

19

RP: give the 01 83?pts and had this to say
The proprietor of Mount Mary has never wanted me to taste his wines, which are revered by segments of the Australian press, but with some stealth work, I was able to secure a few vintages. In addition to the 2001 Quintet, I was able to taste the 1998, 1997, 1995, and 1994. For my taste, only the 2001 merited a score higher than 80 points. The attempt appears to be to emulate a Bordeaux petit chateau, but none were as fine, being lean, high in acid, austere, and meagerly endowed. They will not improve with age. The 2001 has slightly more to it than the older vintages. It is difficult to understand what merit these wines possess

Jay Miller gave the 06 92pts, and LPB gave the 06 94pts

20

Robert Parker on Kosta Browne:

“I purchased four Kosta Browne Pinot Noirs from one of the Mark Squires’ Bulletin Board members (who graciously offered them) since I am unable to find them in the state of Maryland and I have been wanting to taste them since they have been getting such rave reviews. To say I was disappointed is an understatement. They are not bad wines, but I had read that they were “massive,” “syrupy,” and “opulent,” and none of these wines were. In fact, three of them seemed to have unnaturally high levels of acidity as well as simple, one-dimensional personalities. With the exception of the Kanzler Vineyard, none of them had much depth.”

2004 Kosta Browne Pinot Noir Amber Ridge Vineyard Russian River 86
2004 Kosta Browne Pinot Noir Koplen Vineyard Russian River 87
2004 Kosta Browne Pinot Noir Cohn Vineyard Russian River 85?
2004 Kosta Browne Pinot Noir Kanzler Vineyard Sonoma Coast 88"

WS rated those four 94, 95, 96 and 94, respectively.

Another one is 2001 Montelena. WS gave the estate cab and the Napa cab both 69 points. RP gave them 91 and 87. Laube believed the winery had a TCA contamination. I think there is a consensus since then that he misdiagnosed those wines, and they have turned out fine.