Washington Life Magazine: September 2007: Charitywork 100 Point Vintage Wine Tasting

WHO’S THE AUTHORITY: WINE SPECTATOR OR WINE ADVOCATE?

Why does a 2001 Harlan Estate Cabernet get a 100 from Wine Advocates Robert Parker but a 96 from Wine Spectator? It’s all in the tasting methods and who performs the tests. Parker does Wine Advocate’s tastings in peer-group, single-blind conditions, meaning that nothing about the wine is known prior to testing, and wines are compared to one another. Wine Spectators eight editors are experts in different regions. Each editor generally performs blind tastings for wines in his or her region. Both methods ensure consistency and unbiased ratings, while allowing for different scores based on the critic’s tasting experience and preferences. Since Robert Parker has more experience, his ratings generally determine the wine’s value; however, Wine Spectator is regarded as the authority of wine publications.

It is not as if you can “substitute” other bottles for 100 point-rated wines, but if you want similar taste or fl avor profi les in wines that you can actually afford to drink – even if only on special occasions – allow me to make a few recommendations of wines that I feel represent incredible value.

1oo Point Wines

Comments

Valued Equivalent

1990 Bollinger Extra Brut Champagne R.D.

1996 Moet Chandon Dom Perignon

There is no substitute for Champagne from France, especially these two magnifi cent vintages from two of the most respected houses in Champagne. But if you want to drink great bubbles on a budget, I would recommend a cava from Spain or a domestic U.S. sparkling wine.

Gramona Grand Cuvee; Domaine Chandon, Napa Valley

For under $40: Bollinger Special Cuvee; and Moet Chandon White Star or Moet Nectar

1986 Mouton-Rothschild

1989 Chateau La Mission-Haut-Brion

1990 Chateau Latour 1990 Chateau Margaux

All of these great Bordeaux Chateaus make second labels worth tasting, and of course there are other wonderful and far less expensive wines from Bordeaux. But I suggest you have some fun and try other wines from other places, which will afford you excellent value, as they are not as well known. These all may appear to be leaning towards New World, but in actuality, they are all terroir-driven wines, with an Old World sensibility and balance.

Mauro, Bodegas Mauro, VT Castilla y Leon, Spain

De Toren Fusion V, Polkadraai Hills, Stellenbosch, South Africa

Frankland Estate Olmo’s Reward, Isolation Ridge, Western Australia

Domaine Skouras, Megas Oenos, Nemea, Peloponnese, Greece

1997 Harlan

1996 Bryant Family Cabernet

We love our American wines, as we should – we make some of the world’s best, and the two served prove that. For perhaps better value, I suggest you venture to South America and taste some of their fi nest.

Trapiche, Single Vineyard Malbec, Mendoza, Argentina

Casa LaPostolle, Cuvee Alexandra, Merlot, Casa Blanca, Chile

2001 Chateau Rieussec Sauternes

2001 Chateau d Yquem Sauternes

Two of the most decadent dessert-style wines on earth, but there are so may other options that we can actually afford to drink more than once in a lifetime. Such as German Riesling, origin of great wines and great values both dry and sweet; Spain’s misunderstood, versatile, food-friendly wine of Jerez, Sherry; and The Greek isles, home of perhaps the oldest wines ever produced, and today better than ever.

Selbach-Oster Zeltinger Himmelreich Riesling Eiswein, Germany

Lustau East India Solera, Jerez, Spain

Domaine Sigalas Santorini, AOC Santorini, Greece

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