Jay Miller, a critic at the Wine Advocate, described it as “Inky purple, the wine offers an array of scents which jump from the glass… structured wine with gobs of flavor, terrific intensity… It will provide pleasure through 2025.&# Think it couldn’t happen? Guess again and behold the saga of Sierra Carche 2005. MORE >>

The critics love the wines. incredible Parker ratings! So you know all about the e-auction that opens May 29, 2011 in alignment with the Auction Napa Valley 2011, yes? am spotlighting certain producers and interesting lots that every wine lover (and supporter of the Napa Valley's charities) should know about. Signorello Lot #413. MORE >>

haven’t crunched the numbers but Blake Gray did and found that new critic Antonio Galloni’s “midpoint” (not sure if this is the mean or median) was 92, up from 91 for Parker’s last set of reviews. Once that issue disappears subsequent vintages of a wine that got a higher rating won’t cause sales. MORE >>

If I were to look into it it variables I would examine include: the role of critics in each beverage; the role of online discussion boards and user-generated reviews/ratings; the extent of home wine making or beer making; the availability of formal classes or training; and the geographic proximity of an enthusiast to a microbrewery or winery. MORE >>

Before buying a special bottle I always made sure that the vintage received a high rating on my sheet. And who cares if you wind up liking a vintage that the critics deride? 2000 and 1997 are rated as essentially perfect vintages. Thanks to my then girlfriend, now wife BrooklynLady, sometime in 2004 I rediscovered wine. MORE >>