Tag: writers

Wine Scores – Do They Matter

Sommelier Jodi Fritch

Do wine scores matter?

This seems to be a favorite topic among bloggers and wine consumers, so let me throw ‘what I believe’ into the ring. You have to love the internet!

What if I like a wine that has been rated poorly?

What if my friends find out?

OMG! Seriously! Relax – this is supposed to be fun. This is wine. Swirl it, smell it, taste it, and decide one very important thing . . . do you like it.

However, let’s talk about the way wines are evaluated and perceived, and how you can apply some of this to your own wine tasting experience. The only way to learn this is lots of practice. I know, terrible news.

Professional wine tasting is based on two things, objective and subjective evaluation of the liquid in your glass. An objective evaluation of wine will provide the taster with information regarding the more concrete qualities of wine (acidity, sweetness, and tannin). These qualities are roughly measurable and experienced in the same way by most people. These qualities are measurable when we remember that on a scale of low to high – medium is the norm.

Subjective evaluation of wine will provide information regarding the wine’s smell and taste. These qualities are interpreted by an individual’s memory. They are perceived differently by an individual based on their past experiences.

While it is important to note that professional wine critics taste hundreds of wines every year, it is also important
Do Wine Scores Matter
to note that this is done so in a very sterile environment and independent of food and the company of good friends, which in tampawinewoman’s opinion, always enhance the wine drinking experience.

The end game is all about how you interpret the wine, whether you are comfortable with the wine’s value (the enjoyment of the wine versus the price paid for the glass or bottle), and ultimately whether you love or hate the wine.

The thing that wine critics have over us “regular” people, is that they taste more wine then we could imagine (and I can imagine a lot). Therefore, they are comfortable with the process of evaluating wine. Learning to taste wine like a professional is a skill, something that with practice you can learn. Lots of thoroughly enjoyable practice!
A Year in the Life

Sommelier Jodi Fritch

One of the things that I love about wine is that there is always so much to learn.

This passion for learning (some may say obsession) contributes to the rather extensive wine library that I keep at home.

As I was putting some notes together for a presentation I am giving, I came across one of my favorite wine quotes.

“every single bottle represents a year in the life of somewhere.” (Matt Skinner)

In addition to being an insightful statement about terroir (more about terroir another time), this statement echoes some of my feelings about tasting and appreciating wine.

1. Be respectful of the juice

2. Give credit to the effort that goes into producing every bottle.

and, most importantly …

3. Slow down

Take the time to get to know your wine. Smell the wine. Really get in there, and not just once. Great wine will
Terroir
change dramatically the longer it is in your glass. Put away the gadgetry (specifically the Vinturi and other similar aerators) and let the wine do it’s thing on its own timeline. Enjoy this experience. It’s a new year, start it out just a bit slower and appreciate all the aromas in your glass of wine.
Holiday Stress

Sommelier Jodi Fritch

Dear Wine Stores:
It is with heavy heart that I write to you during this holiday season. I must request that you stop staffing your stores with employees who are completely uneducated about wine and have no desire to learn. Additionally, I must request that if you insist in continuing this practice that you have them refrain from distributing bad information to customers.
Sincerely,tampawinewoman

Dear Wine Consumers:
If I had only one wish this holiday season it would be that you re-evaluate where you are buying your wine. We are so lucky to have some really great wine shops in the area filled with both knowledgeable staff and knowledgeable consumers that it would only make sense to support such places. If you live in the Tampa Bay area, please email me and I will tell you where you can visit such a store close to your home.
Sincerely,tampawinewoman

I MUST RANT just for a second

So … here’s the deal … I had a fantastic wine dinner at my house this weekend. All Australian themed. My friend called me up and said, I would like to buy some wine for the dinner, can you recommend some bottles. Happily I responded with a list of bottles that I know are readily available.

As we were discussing the wine selections over appetizers I could not believe the ‘bad’ and ‘just plain horribly wrong’ information that she had received from the ‘wine person’ at the ‘big and large’ wine store. There are so many people out there handing out incorrect information about wine and confusing everyone, what’s one more, right.

During this holiday season find a wine store that you love, and a wine person you can trust. Let’s support the small wine stores, who staff their stores with love and passion and have in place a staff that can truly assist you with correct wine information.

FYI – they do make sparkling wine in Australia! and you do sell it – as I saw it on your shelf just two days before in large supply.
Merlot? Maybe.

Rachel From Loco Diner
Talk about a ghost of Christmas past. That was my first thought when I went into the cellar to pull out a bottle of red to go along with our take-out pizza the other night. This Christmas apparition, a 1996 Sterling Merlot, was still dressed in the gold ribbon it wore when it arrived at Club Loco back in the late 90s. It was dustier than I remembered.

Over the past decade, I’ve often thought of Merlot as a wine cliche, much like White Zinfandel was to the 80s. Like aphids among the vines, bottles of Merlot started to pop up everywhere. They appeared at weddings and restaurants and especially at our house during dinner parties and holidays as they arrived with guests eager to spread good cheer. Where there’s a party, there’s Merlot.

Eager to jump on the wine train, I poured and drank, and poured again. This went on for years. I just didn’t like it and I gave up. You can lead a girl to the tasting room but you can’t make her drink.

I tried to figure out what the big attraction was. I was left with the belief that it had to be the cool name. After all, it really sounds chic to say, “I’ll have a glass of Merlot.” Leaving that “t” off of the end makes the coolness official combined with the fact that Cabernet Sauvignon is a bit difficult to roll off your tongue after you’ve had a few glasses of it.

As a result, years have passed since my last taste of Merlot. That is, until this past Saturday night rolled around. You see, I really hate to go against the grape. In addition to my conformist tendencies, I have embarked on a recent journey to revisit wine that I have decided I don’t like. After all, tastes change, right? I was off to test the vintage.

Back to the 96 Sterling Merlot. I grabbed my favorite bottle opener and attempted to open it up. The cork broke. The first aphid in the grape pulp. With some assistance, I was able to remove the cork without any further incident and the wine made it into my favorite, stemless tasting glass.

If you look carefully, you can see the “ghost” in the wine.

I sniffed and swirled. Not bad. I liked the color, a deep garnet. The aroma was earthy and rich with a small bite but nothing discouraging.

I tasted. Better yet. I was greeted by a spicy and flavorful wine that had plenty of fruit and a punch of cedar. Ok. It was downright pleasant.

I’m not going to whine over spilt Merlot and will stand by my assessments of the other Merlots I have tried. They do pale in comparison to the 96 Sterling. As a result, I now find myself with even more of a dilemma.

Do I like Merlot after all? Is my new found affection exclusive to the 14- year-old bottle from Sterling Vineyards? I guess only time will tell. In the mean time, I will, once again, take my hat off to Sterling Vineyards. You really knocked this Merlot out of the Valley.
Wine is Everywhere!

Sommelier Jodi Fritch
Wine is Everywhere!

I have great news for all of us wine enthusiasts … wine is everywhere. It’s as if the whole world is saying “cheers!”, all while endorsing your appreciation for the juice. If you’re as passionate about wine as I am, you have to agree … it’s AWESOME.

It’s being sold at fine wine stores, mega wine and spirit superstores, Target, Walmart, Sam’s Club, Costco, grocery stores, drug stores, you can even buy wine at gas stations (choose wisely, for selection is limited, but it will do in a pinch).

It’s on television and movies. All types of movies from romantic comedies to action packed thrillers. It seems that everyone has time for wine. I’ve seen it on soap operas and sit-coms. They are not just drinking this stuff either. They are going to wine tastings. They are owning vineyards. They are really involved.

This week I was blown away when my son informed me that he was given a bottle of Pinot Noir in the video game World of Warcraft. That’s right its even in video games now. At least it wasn’t any F***ING MERLOT!

So, stop anywhere, buy some wine. Pour yourself a glass and toast pop-cultures endorsement of your passion for the juice.

Seen wine somewhere surprising lately? Let me know or comment below.