Wine Spectator's 100 Americans

I lost respect for Wine Spectator staff’s palates (in general), assuming for the sake of this discussion that the staff is above bald-faced collusion, in whatever year the magazine declared 1996 Cinq Cepages Wine of the Year. I bought a couple of bottles and after a sip poured that bottle down the drain. I thought it tasted only marginally better than a sip of Corbett Canyon I gagged on at somebody’s house. I still like the magazine for profiles, and facts it presents, and pretty pictures.

So, I just received this year’s top 100 pick. I saw only one Bordeaux (I looked quickly, in case somebody finds two). I wondered what Martians, theoretically for argument supposing they have good palates, might think if they dropped down to earth and tried various wines. Would they find only one Bordeaux worthy of a top-100 rating? And it’s not just a value thing. For example, 2011 Chateau Fleur La Mothe, for $15, is a wonderful claret!

But I know that 100 Americans can’t be wrong. The problem must be with me. What am I missing?

[David M. Bueker]

It's a vintage thing. 2012 and 2013 are not strong for Bordeaux, and that's what was released in the time frame they were working with. You will likely see more Bordeaux representation when 2014 and especially 2015 come out as full releases (versus futures).

It's a vintage thing. 2012 and 2013 are not strong for Bordeaux, and that's what was released in the time frame they were working with. You will likely see more Bordeaux representation when 2014 and especially 2015 come out as full releases (versus futures).

Thanks. Because of my advanced age I stopped buying Bordeaux after the 2011 vintage. And I don’t focus on the relative quality of later years; and I shouldn’t have bothered looking at the Wine Spectator list; and, worse yet, I shouldn’t have commented about it.