| Some years ago in a book by Lee Iacocca, who | | | | 60-69 A below average wine containing |
| was President of Ford Motor Co. prior to | | | | noticeable deficiencies, such as excessive |
| taking over Chrysler Corp. and leading them | | | | acidity and/or tannin, an absence of flavor |
| out of bankruptcy, I read that Mr. Iacocca's | | | | or possibly dirty aromas or flavors. |
| boss, Henry Ford II, drank two bottles of | | | | |
| Chateau Lafite-Rothschild every day. Two | | | | 50-59 A wine deemed to be unacceptable." |
| bottles per day is an awful lot and wouldn't | | | | |
| be advisable, but I did like the thought of | | | | To be sure, you will not find fine wines |
| drinking fine wine every day. Today, | | | | rated at 96 or above on the cheap, 15% off or |
| depending on the vintage, two bottles of | | | | not! However, it is entirely possible to find |
| Chateau Lafite can cost upwards of $1,000 or | | | | wines rated in the upper 80's (very good) or |
| even more. If your name is Henry Ford you can | | | | even low 90's (low outstanding range) for |
| no doubt afford this, but most of us have to | | | | good prices, often $10 or less on sale! If |
| settle for something a little less | | | | your wine or liquor store does not display |
| prestigious for our nightly dinner pairing. | | | | the ratings tags, suggest that they do so, or |
| | | | if necessary find another store that does. |
| The point of this article is simple: One can | | | | |
| drink good, sometimes even excellent wines, | | | | The main advantage of the above strategy is |
| at very reasonable prices. | | | | that you are basing your purchases on some |
| | | | opinion. If you simply choose a wine without |
| The easiest way to do this is to wait for | | | | knowing anything about it, you might still |
| your local liquor store to have their | | | | find a pleasurable bottle, but the chances of |
| periodic sales. For example, about once a | | | | success are considerably diminished. |
| month a large liquor store nearby our home, | | | | |
| which carries a reasonably good selection of | | | | Another resource for choosing fine wines is a |
| wines from around the world, has a sale for | | | | good local wine specialty shop. In our town |
| 15% off for those on their "family plan". So | | | | we have a shop run by a young man who is |
| that's obviously the time to stock up. | | | | extremely knowledgeable about all aspects of |
| | | | wine, from vineyard practices to production |
| The next question is what wines to choose. | | | | to tasting, and he is truly passionate about |
| Unless you already know some good producers | | | | the subject. I have learned to trust his |
| and have your favorites, the best guides are | | | | judgment, and when he recommends a wine, I |
| the little tags which give wine ratings by | | | | can count on it being a good choice. Of |
| wine critics such as Robert Parker of "The | | | | course he needs to charge more than the large |
| Wine Advocate", the "Wine Spectator", and | | | | volume liquor stores for his wines, but his |
| "The Wine Enthusiast", among others. Most | | | | knowledgeable inputs more than make up for |
| good liquor stores make a point to display | | | | the extra cost. So I routinely make a point |
| these tags for the wines that the critics | | | | to pick up some bottles at this shop in |
| have tasted. As an example of wine ratings, | | | | addition to stocking up as described above. |
| here are the criteria used by Robert Parker, | | | | |
| considered by many to be the foremost of wine | | | | If you can afford to purchase and cellar |
| critics: | | | | great fine wines, then by all means go for |
| | | | it. But if your wine budget is a little more |
| "96-100 An extraordinary wine of profound and | | | | down to earth, try the procedure outlined |
| complex character displaying all the | | | | above. I have found the wines recommended by |
| attributes expected of a classic wine of its | | | | the critics are almost always good, (nothing |
| variety. Wines of this caliber are worth a | | | | is foolproof, however, as evidenced by a |
| special effort to find, purchase, and | | | | solidly mediocre Tuscan wine we tried last |
| consume. | | | | week), but you'll be pleased most of the |
| | | | time. Personally I like the choices of Robert |
| 90-95 An outstanding wine of exceptional | | | | Parker as well as those of The Wine |
| complexity and character. In short, these are | | | | Spectator. Also, I like to learn what I can |
| terrific wines. | | | | about the wine, the grapes used, and also |
| | | | production methods used such as oak aging, |
| 80-89 A barely above average to very good | | | | malolactic fermentation, etc. This is easily |
| wine displaying various degrees of finesse | | | | accomplished using the LaRousse Encyclopedia |
| and flavor as well as character with no | | | | of Wine or other reference books. The more |
| noticeable flaws. | | | | you learn about wine the more you will enjoy |
| | | | the experience, and you'll also learn more |
| 70-79 An average wine with little distinction | | | | about how fine wines make food taste better. |
| except that it is soundly made. In essence, a | | | | And as the old adage goes, "life is too short |
| straightforward, innocuous wine. | | | | to drink bad wine". |
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