The only sellers in Pensylvannia, PAwineand spirits, are trying to cheat out their customers. They are rating the Chateau ST Jean Cinq Cepages 2003 as a 94 pointer by Wine Spectator when in reality its a 86 pointer. For all you out there that know a little-bit about wine there is a BIG !!! diference between a 94 and an 86.

So don't be fooled.

Some other magazine rated it 94 not Winespectator.

PA sucks for buying wine anyway so go to NJ they have better variety and prices.

I just hate it when they do things like this!!!!

Better yet, don't buy a wine based on what a tag with a critic's rating. Instead, buy wines that you like, who cares what they have been rated. If you are not sure, buy one and try it.

There are many very high rated wines, but just cause it got a 98 score does not mean you will like it.

Not for nothing you took the trouble of making a post about a wine shop that has a talker labeled as a ws 94 wine when its really a ws 86 but others have rated it a 94.

This is thin, very thin/ Sounds like a disgruntled employee or something more to this story.
My new zen approach is apparently over.

While I agree that a wine shouldn't be purchased based on score or a talker on the shelf, I agree with Gourmand that using a false Wine Spectator "score," is deceptive. Maybe it's intentional, mabye it's just sloppy work on the shop's part, but that sort of thing irritates the heck out of me too. I wouldn't jump on Gourmand for posting this at all.

quote:

Originally posted by inky:
Better yet, don't buy a wine based on what a tag with a critic's rating. Instead, buy wines that you like, who cares what they have been rated. If you are not sure, buy one and try it.

I dunno inky. Not really practical to taste everything before you buy it. In a perfect world, perhaps. Even then, with red wines from Burgundy, the big hitters of the Rhone and even very young Bordeaux, even most experienced tasters will have a hard time predicting what these wines will be when they're mature.

I'll buy wines untasted if they are tasted by a critic with whom I'm calibrated with very little worry. And misleading shelf talkers are tantamount to lying and stealing in my book.

PH

quote:

Originally posted by PurpleHaze:

quote:

Originally posted by inky:
Better yet, don't buy a wine based on what a tag with a critic's rating. Instead, buy wines that you like, who cares what they have been rated. If you are not sure, buy one and try it.

I dunno inky. Not really practical to taste everything before you buy it. In a perfect world, perhaps. Even then, with red wines from Burgundy, the big hitters of the Rhone and even very young Bordeaux, even most experienced tasters will have a hard time predicting what these wines will be when they're mature.

I'll buy wines untasted if they are tasted by a critic with whom I'm calibrated with very little worry. And misleading shelf talkers are tantamount to lying and stealing in my book.

PH

I agree if you know about the wines you are buying. And some people can drink a wine "before its time" to get an inclination of what it will turn out to be (as I am sure you can). But if you are buying blind just based on a critics score, you should be prepared that even though it received a high score you may not like it (i.e. - Mollydooker).

Aas far as misleadfing shelf talkers, they are prevelant in almost every wine shop I have ever been in. For example, it is classic to have the rating for the 2003 and what is on the shlf for sale is the 2004. Granted it is poor "maintenance" by the wine store but it happens (I am sure it is sometimes by mistake and sometimes on purpose). FYI - Total Wine does this a lot, so check the vintages carefully.

Also, I was not bashing Gourmand, I was trying to give some good advice. It is more important to buy what you like not buy based on the critic's score.

quote:

Aas far as misleadfing shelf talkers, they are prevelant in almost every wine shop I have ever been in. For example, it is classic to have the rating for the 2003 and what is on the shlf for sale is the 2004. Granted it is poor "maintenance" by the wine store but it happens (I am sure it is sometimes by mistake and sometimes on purpose).

Funny, I don't run across this much at all. I think you can tell whether it's poor maintenance or an honest mistake by telling the proprietor. His/her response will tell you everything you need to know.

PH

quote:

Originally posted by PurpleHaze:

quote:

Aas far as misleadfing shelf talkers, they are prevelant in almost every wine shop I have ever been in. For example, it is classic to have the rating for the 2003 and what is on the shlf for sale is the 2004. Granted it is poor "maintenance" by the wine store but it happens (I am sure it is sometimes by mistake and sometimes on purpose).

Funny, I don't run across this much at all. I think you can tell whether it's poor maintenance or an honest mistake by telling the proprietor. His/her response will tell you everything you need to know.

PH

True...at Total Wine I am sure it is on purpose to sell via the "bait and switch". I have told the Managers and the same talkers are still up months later. Whereas at my local ABC I see it occasionally and the wine consultant will apologize and quickly remove it.

Caveat Emptor.

Wow I didn't know I would have such a response!

First of all for those that don't follow the rating system, well good for you! I don't have gazillion $$$$$ to taste every wine that comes my way and see if they are good or not. I would rather spend 100$ on 2-3 good wines than 5-6 crappy wines. There is a big difference between a Mercedes Benz and a Kia, if you know what I mean.

I have tasted many WS rated wines and they are the most accurate of the 3 mayor tasters out there. (This is my opinion) To me a 90 Wine Advocate is usually a 86-87 WS. A 93-94 Wine Advocate usually is a 90-91 WS. (Once again this is my opinion)

I just want people to know that, in this case, they are fooling the consumer. Hey, I would love to try all the wines out there but the truth of the matter is I can't. That is why I relly on WS.

Any way I just had a Chianti Rufina Montesodi 2003 and it was delicious!!!!

Cheers my friends!!!!