>> Articles » Rogov » Daniel Rogov Reacts to TerraVino 2008
13.11.2008
By: Daniel Rogov
Several general reactions on my part.
1. For many years competitions awarded Gold, Silver and Bronze medallions. TerraVino has gone to Double Gold, Gold and Silver. What that means is that wines that might once have won Silver can now boat that they won Gold, and what might once have been Bronze is now Silver. A rather frivolous way, in my opinion, to make prizes "look even better"
2. Because we have no idea of what minimum score was required to attain a given medal, it is difficult to say what medal is worth precisely what. More than that, we are not told what minimum score was required to attain any medal at all. Wines that earn scores of 85 are good wines. Of that there is no question. In my opinion, however, that is simply not good enough to take away a "prize".
3. If I were organizing or supervising such a competition minimum scores for attaining various medals would be as follows. Some may consider my guidelines too stringent but my feeling is that such medals should be for quality and not for effort or being a nice guy.
Gold: 93 or higher
Silver: 89-92
Bronze: 87-89
4. Considering that this competition considers price of wines as a category, should one assume that a wine costing US8.00 that wins a gold medal is the quality equivalent of a wine that costs US$30 and wines the same medal? Me doubts that. The list of prizes, however, does not list the price category so it is difficult to say just what gold, silver or other medals are the equivalent of which other wines.
5. Am I wrong or does it seem that every winery that entered the competition seems to have won at least one award? One wonders (or at least I wonder) if that is statistically possible. I cannot help but think that as scores and medals awards are tabulated that the vote counting and adjustments should be overseen by a completely neutral office of certified accountants and not by those involved in the competition.
6. Not to be ignored is the question of those wineries that did not enter the competition. Indeed some of the better wineries are represented but quite a few of the best wineries are not. Believe me, I cannot run very rapidly but I would certainly come in first in a race with one-legged men.
7. With regard to scores in particular, I sit somewhat open-mouthed at the discrepancies between the ranking of the wines at the competition and my own ratings. That some wines I consider truly mediocre won major prizes and that some I consider truly fine barely came in with "silver" rather amazes me.
Scores aside, the results of this particular competition are at wide variation with the tastings and published tasting notes of Robert Parker and Mark Squires, the Wine Spectator, Decanter and yes, myself and even several of my local colleagues.
8. Considering that a mini-industry of wine competitions has developed (there are at least 400 "international" commercial competitions annually), I cannot help but think that such competitions are better business for the competition industry than the wine industry. And I continue to ask – of what possible use are such competitions for consumers? As for me (and yes, the advice I give) – with the exception of several major competitions (e.g. those held at VinItaly and Vinexpo and the London Wine and Spirits Competition) – consumers continu8e to be far better served by reading individual critics.
9. In summary – as I see it, competitions like this remind me of Abraham Lincoln's axiom to the effect that "this is the kind of thing that people who like this kind of thing like" I guess I'm just not one of those who likes this kind of thing. That does not make me "right". It is, however, my honest opinion.
Following is the list of prize winners with my own scores attached (in parentheses) for those wines that I have tasted. Those wines that I have not tasted carry the notation NT. Also a few footnotes….
TERRAVINO 2008
Barkan Wine Cellars Ltd.
Barkan Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon 2005 (88)
Double Gold Medal
Adir Winery
Plato 2005 (NT) (1)
Double Gold Medal
Carmel Winery
Kayoumi Shiraz 2005 (91)
Double Gold Medal
Alona Winery
Alona Merlot 2006 (89)
Double Gold Medal
Barkan Wine Cellars ltd.
Segal's Merom Galil Cabernet Sauvignon 2005 (89)
Double Gold Medal
Gvaot Winery Ltd.
Gvaot Masada 2006 (86)
Double Gold Medal
Lili Winery
Lili Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve 2005 (80) (2)
Double Gold Medal
Odem Mountain Winery
Odem Mountain Merlot 2005 (85)
Double Gold Medal
Tabor Winery
Tabor Adama Cabernet Sauvignon Terra Rosa 2005(89)
Double Gold Medal
Tanya Winery
Halel Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve 2006 (89)
Double Gold Medal
3 Vins
3 Vins Cabernet Sauvignon 2003 (85)(3)
Double Gold Medal
Alexander Winery
Alexander Sandro Cabernet Sauvignon Merlot 2006(87)
Dear Daniel, last year I wrote a huge article about Terravino 2008, Israeli wines and wineries (and about you in person as well, do you remember?) on over 40 pages in the Czech SOMMELIER magazine. I was member of the jury this year as well.
I was very sorry reading your comments. The truth is, that the choice of international judges was very prestigious, mostly from the 1st tasters list. Who is best known as Pascual Herrera García, director of the Spanish O.I.V. contest Premios Zarcillo, Sergio Correa Undurraga - formet head winemaker at Tarapacá in Chile, David Henault, minemaker at Champagne Nicolas Feuillatte etc? I myself am taking part at O.I.V. concourses more times a year all over the world and I will underline, that Terravino 20087 was clear, professional, well orgtanized and comparable with ANY OIV CONTEST in the world in terms of objectivity and level of judges - both the international ones oir Israeli ones, mostly winemakers with international skills.
You are writing about people congratulating you for your critics at the SOMMELIER exhibition. Unfortunately we didn´t met each other there, though I was there as well - and I saw there at almost all exhibiting stands copies (or originals) of this year Terravino awards. The people are happy and proud of it! And they are having good reason for it!
Dear Daniel, I´m living with wines for 35 years in a small country, the Czech republic. Believe me, that the worst thing is to share the small community of winemakers and winelovers into two hostile parts. I know very well what about I´m writing now. Try to find good and positive things and moments at Terravino, though you wasn´t there. Maybe next year you will be invited in the jury and you will see by your own eyes, the TERRAVINO in realy worth to ne a part of Israeli Pride. If not, doesn´t matter. The wine should bring pleasure and intelligent understanding, not antagonism between wine critics and organizers of several wine fairs, tastings and exhibitions.
Best wishes (and my congratulations for year to year better quality of Israeli red wines)
Lubos BARTA, editor-in-chief of the Czech SOMMELIER magazine (Sorry for my bad English)...
I buy Israeli wines in my country (Not for Israelis)
