Posts Written OnOctober 15, 2008

By Jason Feulner, Finger Lakes Correspondent The question in the title is not flippant: the ever-frustrating 89-point score is a non-starter in terms of soliciting national interest in a given wine. If Wine Spectator graciously grants a 90-point rating, the wine flies off the shelf. An 89, despite its proximity to 90, results in mediocre interest at best. The problem is even more vexing for wines from lesser-known regions. An 89 for a well-known California producer will not deter loyal consumers en masse, but the same score for a New York, Michigan or Virginia winery means that the millions of…

This morning, a quick observation that I’ll likely explore further in the future: As I mentioned yesterday, Melissa Dobson and I are gathering wines from Long Island and Finger Lakes wineries to pour at next week’s Wine Bloggers Conference our in Sonoma County. The samples are still flowing in, but one thing has caught my attention, and I’m wondering what it means. Of the 20 or so Finger Lakes wineries that are taking part, I’d estimate (because I don’t have the list in front of me) that 15 are sending riesling, the grape the region is best known for. The…