Reviews
Like many things, it seems that the world of wine revolves around numbers - at which brix level were the grapes picked, what is a wine's alcohol or pH level, what score did a wine achieve? Can we taste those numbers? Probably not.
So how meaningful are numbers?
They can be helpful in some ways but in many instatnces they have a tendency to deceive us.
Above all, when it comes to purchasing, we encourage you consult the staff at a very good wine shop that you like, or the sommeliers or wine directors/buyers at your favorite restaurants. These people frequently taste our wines, they are usually passionate and generally knowledgeable. They put wines on their list because they know and love them, because they work well with the restaurant's food, and because (the really good ones) know you and what you like.
When there isn’t the time or opportunity to engage one of these folks, how can the numbers help?:
We do not believe that a point system is a particularly good way to evaluate something that is inherently (and highly) subjective, nor do we believe that a number can capture all the nuances that make up a particulr wine – is a Pinot Noir from Burgundy the same wine as a Cabernet from the Napa Valley if they have the same point score?
To further complicate things: it is truly a difficult task to accurately assess wines; all manner of ‘micro’-factors (such as temperature, glassware, length of decantation, and many others influence the tasting experience and quality perception); ‘macro’-factors such as the overall perception of a vintage often influences scores (unfortunately even of those wines that stand tall above an otherwise challenging vintage).
Numbers can be useful as an overall indicator of a winery’s quality level, and more importantly, as an indicator of reliability when viewed over a longer period.
The true value of point scores is the average of a multitude of reviews, by a multitude of reviewers - like Michelin stars, which are earned and awarded over a period of time during which the restaurant proves itself by consistent performance.
The overall point score average of Sanguis since we began producing wine in 2004 is 93.4 *.
(To put that in words: 90-94 = outstanding, wine of exceptional complexity and character.)
Complexity, character and beauty is what we strive to put into every bottle that says Sanguis on its label. We compete with no one other than ourselves and always stay true to our heart, because beauty is about integrity and individualism:
Trust thyself, every heart vibrates to that iron string R.W. Emerson
*based on 103 reviews from The Wine Advocate, Wine Spectator, Wine Enthusiast, The International Wine Cellar, The Rhone Report, Wine & Spirits; updated annually.
We do believe that written reviews can be helpful and you can find some that we think represent what we make on most of the 'Wines' pages.
