466581 Wed Dec 05 06:36:55 -0800 2007 7 34 Wine 0 3181070 My parents swear by Consumer Reports wine recommendations. I am skeptical, but did like a wine that was recommended in the magazine. It was Columbia Crest Grand Estates Columbia Valley 2004 (WA) Merlot. Admittedly, I am a wine novice, but have recently found a new passion in the area, and am trying to learn as much as I can. On a side note, do you have any recommendations about good sources of information for wine? Wed Dec 05 06:36:55 -0800 2007 142652 madgreek 1 3181184 I have found their reviews to be hit-and-miss. Because you don't know who the reviewers are, you also don't know if they change from issue to issue -- this makes it difficult to ascertain their own palate preferences, biases, etc. Check out http://www.chowhound.com/topics/465844 to see what I mean. On a number of occasions, I have found major factual errors in their reviews. On a number of occasions, their reviews also lump wines together that don't -- to me -- make any sense, and so the ratings ALSO make no sense. So . . . BS? No. Not exactly. But I don't know anyone who is "serious" about wine that takes CR's reviews seriously. Wed Dec 05 07:20:37 -0800 2007 3181070 28122 zin1953 2 3181477 Actually, the Columbia Crest was the only one that I actually agreed with their recommendation. Like zin said, you have no way of knowing who the reviewers are. I love CR, but I usually ignore them when it comes to wine (or most food for that matter.) since taste is so subjective. Wed Dec 05 08:46:59 -0800 2007 3181184 11814 dinwiddie 3 3181765 yes, i like CR as well, but do ignore the food/wine and stove recommendations. CR is excellent when you are looking for the best compromise in cost, quality, user-friendliness, etc. They look for the happy medium, and for most things that is fine by me. But when it comes to matters of the mouth, the quality of the experience takes more importance. I don't want to buy a product that will satisfy most people, I want a product that will satisfy me. Re: good sources of wine info, how much of a novice are you? And how much do you want to know? I found the Windows on the World Complete Wine Course book to be a very accessible book for real novices to start learning about wine. It gives a great overview of wine in general and doesn't overload you with information. If you are beyond this level, then the next best thing is just to drink as many different wines as you can, and supplement with advice from wine professionals in sstore you like, and a variety of wine critics/magazines until you hit upon sources that match your tastes,as discussed in the previously mentioned thread. Have fun! This is the best research you can possibly get into! Wed Dec 05 10:07:41 -0800 2007 3181477 89969 moh 4 3182405 I do not know the CR Wine Reviews, so I cannot comment directly on them. However, as you, MOH, state, they normally go for a middle-ground. I'm a professional photographer/cinematographer, audiophile and a heavy computer user. Clients, associates and friends often trot out the CR reviews of cameras, computers and video equipment, asking me to comment. Most is consumer-grade fare, and I have little experience with that, so abstain, other than making a few gross generalizations. When they hit the pro-sumer gear, I usually find great faults with their tests and assertions. Again, they are trying to distill whole categories of high-end gear to fit the "common man." Some of their comments on ergonomics may hold up, but in general, I find that their criteria are just not real-world enough to make the judgements, that they do. Or, I find that they just plain got it wrong, faulting some gear, for aspects that they just did not understand, and praising other items on meanlingless features. I can only guess that the Wine Reviews are also quite broad and may hit some good ones, but also tout others, mainly on price and the fact that no lab personnel were injured during the taste tests. Remember, this is just a guess. Hunt Wed Dec 05 12:50:12 -0800 2007 3181765 11329 Bill Hunt 5 3183129 My suggestion for learning more about wine is to seek out wine stores that have free weekend tastings, and take advantage of the opportunity! Buy some of what you like, and keep a few notes, if you can, on what you have tasted. Over time, you'll learn what you like. You can expect your tastes to change over time, so you may not want to buy lots of bottles of the same wine for a while. My husband and I learned this the hard way! Cheers! Wed Dec 05 16:58:11 -0800 2007 3182405 112911 tpn423 6 3183241 Tpn423, I agree completely. While I read a lot of "wine porn," it is through the tasting, that I make my decisions. Oh, I may head out with a list of wines, that I picked up "tips" on, from CH, or other, but it is in MY tasting, that I decide to buy (more than one bottle). A well-used notebook, and the honing of one's taste memory, are the best bits of advice for any aspiring wino. Also, I rely on the "press" for few recs., and then, only the members, who spend the vast majority of their time, effort and expense accounts, on wine. I may be missing out, not buying into CR, GQ, Playboy, etc., but they are really in other businesses. Same with retailers. I do not slaveishly buy wines from Trader Joe's. I do pick up a btl., from time to time, but I'm more likely to spend my $ with other sources. I want to deal with people, who are a bit more involved in the "business." Hunt Wed Dec 05 17:40:36 -0800 2007 3183129 11329 Bill Hunt 1 3183144 Consumer Reports doing wine reviews? That's news to me. But anyway, I have rather dim view of this magazine and their reviews .. since I don't trust them about dishwashers I would trust them about wines even less :) Wed Dec 05 17:05:14 -0800 2007 3181070 118541 olasek