Page 13 - Wine Spectator (January 2020)

T H I S I S S U E

How to Buy Wine

e have long said that Wine Spectator is not
so much in the publishing business as in
the education business. Our goal is to in-

form our readers about the world of wine,
Wto help them develop their tastes and to

guide them to wines they may enjoy.
We have never been in the business of selling wine. That pol-
icy—along with our blind-tasting methodology—is how we

maintain our independence and objectivity.
However, readers often ask, “How can we find the wines you

review?” Unfortunately, there is no one easy answer. Wines are
agricultural products, each vintage in limited supply, and their
distribution can be spotty. There’s no guarantee that any given

wine will be available from any given source.
Still, there are strategies that wine lovers can use to maximize

their chances of finding the wines they want, whether that’s a
specific bottle, perhaps highly rated by Wine Spectator, or just
some options in a favorite style.

In “The ABCs of Buying Wine,” a series of articles beginning
on page 42, we describe four different sources (brick-and-mortar

retail, internet retail, winery-direct and auction) and detail each
one’s strengths to help you choose which buying strategy to pur-
sue. We hope this advice will lead you to many fine bottles to

share with family and friends.

f course, we have some advice on what to buy as well. (though not in any aspect of its management or operation). We

In our “Adventures in Values” package, beginning on hope the Tavern will become a gathering place for wine lovers
Opage 62, we take a broad view, listing the more than who live in or visit New York City. But wherever you find your-

750 wines reviewed in 2019 that earned outstanding scores (90 self, let this issue provide pleasing recommendations and helpful
points or higher) yet sell for $25 or less. They were also selected advice to improve your wine-buying all year long.
for wide availability, but if you can’t find the vintage we’ve fea-

tured on the list, know that these wineries consistently deliver
both quality and value.
A tasting report on the wines of France’s Rhône Valley delivers

a sharp focus on this compelling region, which itself offers many
excellent values. Senior editor James Molesworth, analyzing his

reviews of more than 750 wines, proclaims the 2017 vintage to be Marvin R. Shanken
of classic quality in the Northern Rhône and outstanding in the Editor and Publisher
Southern Rhône, where vintners faced more challenging weather.

Other reports look at wines from Canada and the stellar 2017
Vintage Ports, while the Buying Guide contains reviews of more

than 650 new releases. Plus, because it’s peak football season,
we take a look at the NFL’s burgeoning love affair with wine,
including some wines made by players and coaches past and Thomas Matthews

present, and even team-sponsored sippers to try at the stadium. Executive Editor
We’d also like to draw your attention to a new restaurant that
DAVID YELLEN recently opened in New York: the Tavern by WS (see “Events,”

page 29). As the name suggests, Wine Spectator is involved

JAN. 31 – FEB. 29, 2020 • WINE SPECTATOR 11