For many people who are learning about wine, Wine Spectator is either a helpful resource or a publication that is “over my head.” When I first began my study of wine, I turned to Wine Spectator frequently for guidance in selecting from the myriad wines available in my area. I put way too much stock in the wine scores, but did not realize it at the time. For me, the Wine Spectator wine scores helped focus my dollars on wines that I would be more likely to enjoy.
Since then, Wine Spectator has become less useful to me–enough so that I’m letting my current subscription expire. I don’t need articles about fabulous travel destinations, which restaurants to visit there, or a review of the latest wine auction trends. Don’t get me wrong: Wine Spectator is a great publication for many wine lovers. It simply doesn’t fit my needs very well.
The newest issue, Jan. 31 to Feb. 28, 2009, however, is extremely useful. Inside is a multi-page listing of true value wines: wines that Wine Spectator scores 88 or above and yet carry a price tag of $20 (US) or less. There are probably 200 or more of these wines that should be available in most markets, and they include wines from just about every conceivable major and minor wine region. While this issue, like past issues, will find its way to the recycling bin, I can assure you I will remove these pages and refer to them. (Hmmm…I wonder if I can figure out a way to get the info onto my iPhone for when I’m out shopping.)
Today, I wholeheartedly endorse the idea of you going out to the news stand or bookstore and acquiring a copy of this issue. This list of wine values is more than worth the cover price–and in the current economy, we have to make sure that every dollar we spend yields the best quality possible.