After some thought, here are what I consider to be the principal considerations when it comes to what I look for in wine.
- Wine should reflect its place of origin. If a particular wine tastes like it could come from California, Italy, Spain or Chile, I am not interested, no matter how well made.
- Wine should reflect the grape(s) it's made from. Pinot Noir should have a taste distinct from that of Syrah and Sauvignon Blanc shouldn't be easily mistaken for Chardonnay. Wine should showcase the distinct character of each grape.
- Wine should reflect the year that it's made. Each year is unique, and the wine produced in that year should reflect those differences. Put another way, not every year is a "great" year and even off years can produce interesting and attractive wines.
- The role of the winemaker is to bring forth those first three factors rather than imprinting the wine with a "house style."
- The wine should be capable of pairing with food. Wines that are excessively alcoholic or deficient in acid rarely interact well with food. While they may be acceptable as aperitifs or digestifs, that's not how I usually consume wine.
- Vive la difference! Depending on the place, grape and year, a wine could be dry, off-dry or sweet. It's up to me as the consumer to decide what kinds of wine I want; wines shouldn't try to conform to some perception of my own preferences.
- Wine should be an everyday beverage, so not every wine I buy is intended to be an earth-shattering experience. There is room in my cellar for simple, honest, ready-to-drink wines in addition to wines destined to be "great."
I post these preferences mostly as a starting point for discussion. Do you subscribe to these views? Do you have additional factors you consider? Do you have entirely different views?
Mark Lipton Europhilic palate-at-large