I have one tiny little gripe to share with my readers. This won’t take long so do not be afraid to start reading. (I promise). The May 31st 2010 addition of the Wine Spectator has a feature article on the Burgundy producer Domaine De La Romanee-Conti calling these wines the "World’s Benchmark for Pinot Noir". Let me get this right... How many of us have had a chance to taste this wine that goes for an obscene price of $4,000.00 a bottle? With only close to 500 cases produced it is not only hard to get, it is impossible to get! Excuse me for being blasphemous, but how can we agree that it is the benchmark of Pinot Noir if we will never have a chance to try it ourselves? I guess we just have to believe the Wine Spectator and others who have tried it. It is comparable to the wines that the Spectator picks as it’s #1 for a particular year and it is sold out already. No chance to prove them wrong, you can’t get your hands on any.
I am sure that DRC is wonderful pinot noir. In fact, I know that I would not turn down a chance to try some. However, I am also reasonably sure that in a blind tasting among consumers that it probably would not come in as #1 many times. Sometimes the mystique that shrouds a wine can mislead even the most seasoned taster. Heck, how many of us would be embarrassed to say that we did not like it. I myself might even succumb to the peer pressure. ( I hope that I wouldn’t, but one never knows.) I believe quite confidently that I would look at it objectively and give my honest opinion.
Here is my suggestion to the Wine Spectator or any other wine publication that depends on readership of the "Average", blue collar consumer. Please just write that DRC is awesome pinot noir. Describe what we are missing without prejudice or peer pressure and point out that it is obscenely priced and out of reach for most consumers. Make mention of other pinot noir that might be comparable but close to affordable. Never call a wine that most can never taste a "BenchMark" of anything since no one can prove you otherwise. Be honest, be straightforward, be realistic. That is what we want as readers, not fantasy. Here’s to keeping it real. Stan The Wine Man.
