Top 100
The annual Wine Spectator’s Top 100 wines of the year was just unveiled. Most of us in the retail business can say that the Wine Spectator has done good things for the wine business over the years. We might not always agree with them, but they still have a very powerful position in the way wine is made, sold and marketed. With that being said the Top 100 issue is always a big headache for the retailers. A majority of the wines on the list have been released and sold out a long time ago. Of course you have to recall all the wines from the past year to make such a list. Some of the wines are very limited (#2 Ridge Santa Cruz Mts Chardonnay, 2,000 cases produced) and a small few are on a large scale (#71 Columbia Grand Estates Merlot, 140,000 cases produced). The amazing thing about the “list” to me has always been the power it has. We will sell more wines from the “list” once the issue is released then we did all year combined. Customers will purchase case upon case, without even trying the wine, just on the fact that it made the “list”.What is my point of all this? I am asking anyone who reads this and enjoys wine to make up his or her own minds. Try a bottle first and you be the judge! Cheers Mark