However, Brooklynguy and his wife had a baby a few days ago — their second girl — and this wonderful arrival of joy has already had a (temporary we hope) impact on his blogging.

Not wanting to waste your time, I’ve brought in backup … my own favorite wine magazine/website Wine Spectator and their rich media website.

Wine Spectator Napa Home via yodamonLet me clarify that I’m not the wine afficiando that I once was. In pre-Blackberry days, I had wine ratings stashed away in my Filofax and was always in charge of ordering the wine at dinner. No more. No time.

In a quick blog search, I found a bit of bitching about Wine Spectator, but I couldn’t understand why. When you’re on top, everybody has an opinion about you … some positive, others negative.

My personal allegiance to Wine Spectator lies in my sense that they were the toughest grader, that they hadn’t succumbled to grade inflation, which I do not endorse. The Wine Spectator ratings were also consistent with my uneducated taste and smell for what makes a good wine.

Spoiled on Puligny Montrachet

Unfortunately, my serious-minded maiden voyage with wine drinking came in the early 80s, when the franc was 10 to 1 against the $. It’s been downhill ever since, at least for my relationship with white wine.

In their annual Top 100 List, it’s true that WS features many expensive bottles … a source of complaint among some bloggers. In the economic laws of supply and demand, the market will do that to ya … a great wine will command a hefty price.

This year’s #1 wine, Casa Lapostolle, Clos Apalta Colchagus Valley 2005 from Chile sells for $75. The pricetag doesn’t invalidate the fact that there are great wines out there from Chile at terrific prices. If you are committed to picking the best wine … price is not the criteria.

Without reviewing the current list, I assure you there are mid-priced wines. A few years ago, Wine Spectator led the way on introducing us to Sauvignon Blancs from New Zealand’s Marlbrough District, putting at least three $15 bottles of wine in their top 100 list. I continue drinking them today.

Wine Spectator has a daily feature by pricepoint: three wines under $15, three wines $15-$30, and three wines over $30.

Here’s their current list of wines under $15. I assure you that an 89 point wine from WS, is the equivalent of a 91-93 from RP.

DISCOVERY:

Dec 15, 2008PEDRO ROMEROAmontillado Jerez Dry Rich NV (90 points, $11) Almost creamy, this amontillado evokes chocolate, dried fig and spice flavors. Firms up on the finish, with a smoky aftertaste. Drink now. 12,000 cases made. - Bruce Sanderson

Wine Spectator is content rich, with features on dining and travel, as well as wine. You must be a member to rate wines, but there a lot of free content on the website.

Une Petite Critique

I have just one personal criticism of Wine Spectator and that is the reality of one female blogger out of eight. I don’t support quota systems per se. I’d like to think that merit triumphs in life, but I know it doesn’t.

I struggle with the fact that Wine Spectator, with its rigorous standards on wine, can’t create a more gender-balanced selection of wine bloggers and tasters.

I’m not prepared to say that women have a different taste for wine … but we see differently then men, who tend to be color blind. There are many cognitive differences in our brain systems, and there’s no reason to believe that this scientific fact doesn’t impact our wine-tasting preferences.

Given the research that our financial stock picks do better in the long run, who’s to say that we don’t also have a good head for wine.

I would not make this comment with 3 women bloggers out of 8. I’m not sure about 2 women. One female blogger/reviewer in 8 demands a comment from me.

Not to sidetrack us, I really like Wine Spectator and recommend it highly.

As for Brooklynguy, we hope he enjoys his daughter and is back to wine writing real soon. His is an excellent blog, and I’ve added it in the Pleasures Channel.

Enjoy, Anne

Note: Doing a quick search of my own writing on Sauvignon Blanc, I rediscovered Ashes & Snow, which I wrote last year on New Year’s Day. It is one of my favorite journal pieces and became my first “big deal” journal writing, distributed on the Internet. When I read the comment, I sobbed.

It’s time to update and revisit “Ashes and Snow” very soon. A