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Around the world of white wine with a decidedly uninformed judge.
About Me
- Brian
- Guided by his wife, a beer lover warms to the idea of wine.
Wine on the Web
Wine Sorter (by varietal, country/region, grade)
- Albarino (2)
- Argentina (3)
- Australia (10)
- Austria (2)
- Blended (22)
- Cabernet Sauvignon (2)
- California (38)
- Chardonnay (32)
- Chenin Blanc (2)
- Chile (7)
- Falanghina (2)
- Final Grade: A (6)
- Final Grade: A- (15)
- Final Grade: A+ (1)
- Final Grade: B (29)
- Final Grade: B- (20)
- Final Grade: B+ (27)
- Final Grade: C (17)
- Final Grade: C- (12)
- Final Grade: C+ (20)
- Final Grade: D (5)
- Final Grade: D- (2)
- Final Grade: D+ (3)
- Final Grade: F (1)
- France (21)
- Fume Blanc (3)
- Germany (1)
- Gewurztraminer (1)
- Idaho (1)
- Italy (23)
- Malbec (1)
- Milestones (4)
- Napa (11)
- New Zealand (6)
- Oregon (7)
- Other Whites (17)
- Pennsylvania (4)
- Pinot Grigio (30)
- Pinot Gris (10)
- Portugal (1)
- Rhone (2)
- Riesling (3)
- Rose (1)
- Sauvignon blanc (23)
- South Africa (5)
- Spain (5)
- Tempranillo (1)
- Viognier (4)
- Virginia (3)
- Washington (11)
- What's this? Red wine? (5)
- White Burgundy (1)
Blog Archive
-
▼
2009
(29)
-
▼
January
(10)
- Clear Bottle Bay Pinot Grigio '07
- Ironstone Vineyards Obsession Symphony '07
- What could have been...
- Balducci's Pinot Grigio '07
- Pinot Evil Pinot Grigio
- MonteVina Pinot Grigio '07
- Big House White '06
- Come visit us on Facebook!
- River Crest Vintners Pinot Gris '07
- Chateau Haut-Belian Entre-Deux-Mers '06
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▼
January
(10)
Where to find us:
What do the letter grades mean?
An exercise such as this is an exercise in judgment. So here's how I formulate the grades and what they mean.
What I'm looking for in a wine: In a word, adventure. I want balance, an enjoyable taste and something that keeps me coming back for more, but that's what we all want out of life. What distinguishes wine, for me, is where it takes me. Is the nose mysterious; does it portell of good things to come? Does the flavor change and new flavors arise as I swish it around my tongue? What does the finish do, and how does it relate to the rest of the drink? My top-rated wines, for the most part, will excel in each of those questions.
What do the grades mean? In order:
A+: Earth-shattering wine, one that recalculates the very definition of beauty. Only one wine at a time will ever be afforded the A+ rating; until someone can knock off La Baronne, that's the standard-bearer.
A: An exceptional wine, one that - were we richer - would be acceptable at every meal, up to and including use in a bowl of Corn Flakes. It's that good.
A-: A darn good wine, but one with a flaw that sticks out to me. In most instances, an A- wine would be an elegant pick.
B+: A perfectly solid wine. Not earth shattering, exceptional or darn good, but one that is quite enjoyable.
B: A wine in which I can tick off more than one offense. All wines start off great to me, and I find reasons to knock them down a few pegs. A "B" wine gives me that opportunity.
B-: Something is amiss. There was a lot to like about the wine, but something stuck in my craw that I just didn't like.
C+: Generally speaking, an undistinguished wine. This serves as the cusp of the take it or leave it; anything above, I'll generally take. Anything below will be left behind.
C: May have had potential, but some serious trouble spots prevent it from realizing that full potential.
C-: Multiple, major flaws that diminish the experience. If I'm more pissed off when I get up than when I sat down, it's probably a C- or lower.
D+: The wine tried hard and just came up short in almost every area. I want to recognize these efforts and not lump them into the cesspool that lurks below.
D: The first legitimate 'undrinkable' category. If each sip is a chore, if each tip of the glass is met with a sort of mental resistance, then welcome to the aforementioned cesspool.
D-: Pain and suffering abound. Chores and resistance turn into flat-out disgust and you, dear winemaker, shall feel the mockery cast upon you.
F: Is thing skunked? Seriously? Because I can't imagine a real business would put out a product this crappy and expect to survive.
What I'm looking for in a wine: In a word, adventure. I want balance, an enjoyable taste and something that keeps me coming back for more, but that's what we all want out of life. What distinguishes wine, for me, is where it takes me. Is the nose mysterious; does it portell of good things to come? Does the flavor change and new flavors arise as I swish it around my tongue? What does the finish do, and how does it relate to the rest of the drink? My top-rated wines, for the most part, will excel in each of those questions.
What do the grades mean? In order:
A+: Earth-shattering wine, one that recalculates the very definition of beauty. Only one wine at a time will ever be afforded the A+ rating; until someone can knock off La Baronne, that's the standard-bearer.
A: An exceptional wine, one that - were we richer - would be acceptable at every meal, up to and including use in a bowl of Corn Flakes. It's that good.
A-: A darn good wine, but one with a flaw that sticks out to me. In most instances, an A- wine would be an elegant pick.
B+: A perfectly solid wine. Not earth shattering, exceptional or darn good, but one that is quite enjoyable.
B: A wine in which I can tick off more than one offense. All wines start off great to me, and I find reasons to knock them down a few pegs. A "B" wine gives me that opportunity.
B-: Something is amiss. There was a lot to like about the wine, but something stuck in my craw that I just didn't like.
C+: Generally speaking, an undistinguished wine. This serves as the cusp of the take it or leave it; anything above, I'll generally take. Anything below will be left behind.
C: May have had potential, but some serious trouble spots prevent it from realizing that full potential.
C-: Multiple, major flaws that diminish the experience. If I'm more pissed off when I get up than when I sat down, it's probably a C- or lower.
D+: The wine tried hard and just came up short in almost every area. I want to recognize these efforts and not lump them into the cesspool that lurks below.
D: The first legitimate 'undrinkable' category. If each sip is a chore, if each tip of the glass is met with a sort of mental resistance, then welcome to the aforementioned cesspool.
D-: Pain and suffering abound. Chores and resistance turn into flat-out disgust and you, dear winemaker, shall feel the mockery cast upon you.
F: Is thing skunked? Seriously? Because I can't imagine a real business would put out a product this crappy and expect to survive.
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