The reviews in CT talked me out of it. 12 out of 13 by the same guy… felt forced and shady.
On Cellar Tracker? For the 2020, I see three notes, two by the same user and one by another - both grading it between 93-95. For 2021, there are five notes by five different users, with higher scores.
Edit - I think I see what you’re referring to - the aggregate score? Funny, I’ve actually never paid attention to that, only the actual notes written. That’s what I base it on. But otherwise definitely see what you’re saying there.
It’s rare but I sometimes see an individual trying to drive a score up or down, I think cellar tracker could limit the reviews to one and if you want to edit the review as you drink more bottles then do so, but adding 11 reviews for the same wine feels pretty intentional
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Thanks for the tips about CT. I don’t really use them because the reviewers are everyday Joes and Janes, with unknown experience and taste. I’ve known a number of people with no taste in wine and have seen several of them at a tasting give high scores to a simple mass market wine when up against a deeply complex top wine. Of course, some pro reviewers don’t seem much better.
so true
What gets me to buy are multiple, consistent high scores from pro review orgs. An example is this current WS store offer: Telmo Rodríguez 2021 'Matallana' Ribera del Duero Review
It has scores of 97,97, 96,and 95. In for 1 bottle. When I see a wine on WTSO that has scores ranging from 96 to 87 it makes me think that it has a style that appeals to some but turns off others, so is risky to buy.
Will you cellar the Matallana or drink it?
My usual practice for a wine like that is to drink it 9-10 years after the vintage year. It has a a 10-15 year drinking window though starting from this year, so no rush.
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Looks like the mystery pinot is 2019 Tolosa Primera. The alcohol % is slightly different than that listed on the Tolosa website, but everything else lines up. Thoughts on this one?
I tried the WS Tolosa 2017 Solomon Hills Vineyard Pinot Noir recently and wasn’t impressed. Not a pinot fan anyway so passing. I already dumped a lot of cash on their 2 recent BGIII and To Kalon mystery bottles.
Arns 2016?
The Arns is a very well made wine. We tried the 2014-16. I liked the 2016 best but they were all holding up very nicely. Sandi is a great winemaker.
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Any thoughts on the riesling up now? I cant tell if this is a fair deal, a good dral, or a great deal.
A&C Sparr grand Cru “revelation”
I think it’s probably a good deal, although I’ve never had this particular bottle. Garagiste had a previous vintage of this for $39 a while ago fwiw.
I’m riding out the urge to buy, but definitely tempted.
I think that was a different bottling, “brand legend.”
I checked because I knew I had ordered some Sparr from Garaiste before and couldn’t remember which–it was the 2017 Schoenenbourg-Revelation in 2021 for $39. So…four years later and ten bucks cheaper, definitely a solid deal compared to that one data point.
Oh, awesome! Did you drink any?
No, sorry. I didn’t actually buy any of that bottle. But iirc I’ve enjoyed this producer. I’m sure it’s a solid bottle for $29, although the Vinous tasting note saying “the rich sense of melted butter” masks any fruit at the moment is … interesting.
Post&Vine? Yay or nay?
Wrong response