Useful terminology guide

Hugh Johnson's System
Robert Parker's System
Wine Spectator System
Wine Enthusiast System
Basic Juice System

The Caveat

Scoring and Rating systems are as subjective as individual tastes. Controversies can arise every time there is a significant disagreement between one taster and another. They are regarded by some as irrelevant and others as gospel. Are they seen as gold stars a la Mcdonalds server, or a schoolboy waving his Johnson (or Parker) around after a convincing pissing competition? To some extent.

Nevertheless, rating wines do help to promote quality and consistency. They do help the consumer make some form of educated reasoning for purchasing wines, especially blind.

Tasting rooms provide a different atmosphere for the consumer who is able to buy and appreciate wine based on first hand experience where they can eschew the points system if their tastebuds scream aloud. The magic word is "different," when it comes to tasting and scoring. SBWinemakers doesn't do a rating system, we leave that up to those whose methods are linked above. What we provide is something "different". This may be seen as equally controversial or equally subjective, yet there are so many wines available here in Santa Barbara County.

With this in mind, all comments about the wines we research are expressions of how we feel about certain wines. The wines we feature are only the wines we feel are worth bleating about. Our tastebuds are as subjective as anyone elses'. When something remarkable comes along for one reason or another, it will be mentioned. There are no comparisons, all wines that speak for themselves are no different than Winemakers who express themselves through their art.

Individualism is the order of the day. We don't expect anyone to agree with us, nor do we champion one Winemaker over another. If we don't like a wine, we have no intention of selling it up (this also means we won't diss the wine either, read 3rd to last paragraph). Winemakers who submit any of their wines for review should bear this in mind. This is as much our livelihood as it is the Winemakers. There is a place in the Cellar Room for independent reviews if anyone has strong views about a certain wine (this allows for freedom of speech and private autonomy). Hopefully this will give us impartiality and allow us to retain our own individualism.

The refreshing change here will be the way we describe wine. There is none of the lazy writing you find elsewhere - you know what we mean - "blackberry, cherry, chocolate, cassis with hints of licking the inside thigh of Secretariat after 40 furlongs and subnotes of asparagus pickled in two year old brine, yet the nose betrays just a whiff of flared denim ca. 1979 I find quite appealing, I give this 95 gold stars, for the rest of the day".

No. Non. Niet. Never.

There is a way we will give you a clue about who is under suspicion for trying to get rid of high alcohol balsamica, though. They will initially be listed in the "additional information" link of the "wineries and vineyards" page. Presence here will be seen as a wine to be wary of, alongside a line of misfits likely to be under the same label. Acetic acid is present not just in volatile wines, it can equally be sensed in humans. To those who didn't read this far, you will see your link here as better advertising, a prime visual position, above the fold, or whatever. Whereas in reality, to the rest who bother to fully grasp the use of this site, will see your listing here as a "hall of shame", a gris area. They'll be smoked out with smouldering sticks, if you will.

Just as there is no room for ignorance, we try to accommodate all who join, of course, there is the factor of those under most radars. Garagists, negociants, adegas or even good ole boys. Dudes, if you think your stuff is good, invite us over for a taste, or better still, bring a bottle over. Guys, we've tried everything from Luke's mead to Luigi's grappa, don't be afraid to surprise us, you may even get fed. I've recently noticed the big labels are letting their vineyard managers make their own wines. If they approve of the quality enough to let it reach the tasting room, it's worth investigating. There is room for everyone, and it's not the end of the world.

We instead reflect on the cerebral. There's also another Aspect to consider

Cheers