Retrospective Review Volume III, Number 6

In the summer of 1982, Volume III, Number 6 offered the following articles: One Winedrinker’s Opinion – A Case For Old Burgundies, Coming Attractions, 1979 Bordeaux, California Cabernet Sauvignons, More 1979 Red Burgundies, Distinctive New Wines, California Chardonnays, Selected Tasting Notes, Barrels and Bottles, and Cellar Notes. We are currently reproducing a copy of Volume […]

THE SORDID STORY OF WINE MANIPULATION & WINE FRAUD COVERING OVER 40 YEARS OF TASTING OLD WINES

PART I WINE MANIPULATION  & WINE FRAUD – THE EARLY STORY Introduction One of my predictions for 2012 (to read the predictions click here) was that disclosures would be made this year relative to the allegations of fraud contained in several lawsuits that have been pending for the last few years. In the Underground view, […]

Retrospective Review: Volume II, Number 1 (August-September, 1980)

We are currently reproducing a copy of Volume II, Number 1 of The Underground Wineletter. Below you’ll find an updated review of each article, where I will go over what we got right and what we got wrong. We will follow this format with each successive issue.

BIRDS OF A FEATHER…

OK, here’s your twofer – along with the big numbers from the big numbers wine critics comes the big wine descriptions. If you thought some of the numbers were amazing, have you paid attention to the wine descriptions?

100-POINT WINES – GET ‘EM WHILE YOU CAN!

Following Cary Fiebleman’s recent article “Is Sanity Finally Coming To The Market,” I received an offer discounting a list of 100-point wines. Included were 2000 Latour, La Mission Haut Brion, Margaux, Pavie, and Leoville-Las-Cases as well as 2005 Haut Brion and Petrus. Many were in different bottle sizes. Also, nine different Rhone wines, mostly from the 2007 vintage and a Sonoma County Red Wine. Per bottle prices were originally from $325 for a Chateauneuf-du-Pape Cuvee du Quet Mas de Boislauzon up to $5,500 for 2005 Petrus. The new discounted prices per bottle are now $243.75 to $4,125.

Is “Sanity” Returning To The Market?

Is “Sanity” is returning to the market? Recently I have received offers on 2006 Petrus and Ausone that are down about two-thirds from the peak. These are wines that received scores “only” in the low to mid-90s. So far four figure pricing only holds in Robert Parker-anointed, best of the century (frequently twice, thrice a decade) vintages.

Retrospective Review: Volume I, Number 4 (February-March, 1980)

In Volume I, Number 4, February-March 1980, we began with why the “Underground Wineletter? Are We Terrorists?” In this edition I wrote why we began the wineletter, what we set as objectives and our approach. Then, as now, our interest is in drinking wine and reporting on it’s merits as objectively as possible. We expect criticism, especially when our comments may be unfavorable. But, our only objective is to offer opinion that is constructive and in the end everyone – producer, distributor, retailer and consumer – should benefit. The “Underground” reflects our commitment to be as free from outside influence as possible. As we said then: “This is our battle.” Not exactly the stuff to satisfy Genghis Khan, but we think Thomas Jefferson would approve. And, far away in some remote and well-stocked, sub-celestial cellar, Bacchus smiles, nods approvingly and proclaims “Finally on earth, The Underground Wineletter, Veni, Vidi, Vici.”

Retrospective Review Volume I, Number 3 (December-January 1979-1980)

In this our third issue, Edward Lazarus kicked off with “Woes of a Burgundy Drinker” speaking to the fact that back then a lot of wine was spoiled by excessive heat either in transit or after arrival when many wines were stored in unrefrigerated warehouses. In Southern California, there are many weeks each year when temperatures range between 80-100 degrees. Northern California is generally cooler, but even so, temperatures can reach the same highs. This is disaster for wine storage – particularly Burgundy. Burgundies, both red and white, are among the wines most sensitive to excessive heat.

And, 30-40 years ago, many, if not most, wine storage facilities used by wholesalers and distributors were not refrigerated. So true to our mission we were straightforward with our call “must consumers deal with spoiled wines as well?” Today things have changed as now wines are transported in a temperature-controlled environment to their destination , which is temperature-controlled as well. We’ve made progress and today, thankfully, spoiled wines are a rarity.