Winemag Buying Guide -

Julian, a veteran critic for the Wine Enthusiast Buying Guide, held his tasting glass by the base. He looked at the liquid—a deep, garnet-hued Cabernet Franc—and then at the man across the table.

He thought about the millions of readers who would see this entry. They would see: Château de L’Inconnu 2024. 95 Points. Cellar Selection. Notes of crushed violets, graphite, and dark plum. Taut tannins suggest a long life ahead. winemag buying guide

In the world of the Buying Guide, a number was a death or a resurrection. A score meant the Château could fix the leaking roof and pay the pickers; an 88 meant the bank would finally foreclose on the three-hundred-year-old estate. Julian, a veteran critic for the Wine Enthusiast